UNESCO urges protection for Preah Vihear Temple amid Thai-Cambodia clashes

• UNESCO warned Thailand and Cambodia to protect the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, amid escalating border conflict.
• The organization urged both nations to uphold international commitments for cultural heritage protection, citing the 1954 Hague and 1972 World Heritage Conventions.
• Renewed clashes near the temple involved artillery and rocket attacks, causing civilian casualties and damage to homes, schools, and sacred sites.
• Both Thailand and Cambodia have reported casualties, with 9 Thai soldiers and 10 Cambodian civilians dead, and many injured.
• The Preah Vihear Temple, an 11th-12th century Hindu site, is at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute, despite ICJ confirming Cambodia's ownership.

Why It Matters: Escalating conflict imperils a historic Hindu temple, risking global cultural heritage.