UNESCO Sounds Alarm as Cambodia-Thailand Clashes Escalate Near Preah Vihear Temple

• UNESCO expressed deep concern over escalating clashes between Cambodia and Thailand near the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site.
• The organization reminded both nations of their obligations under international conventions and offered technical support for cultural heritage protection.
• Hostilities flared on December 10 with reports of artillery and rocket attacks, following earlier incidents and a collapsed truce.
• Cambodia accused Thailand of F-16 strikes targeting civilians and infrastructure, including temples, while both sides reported casualties.
• The dispute over Preah Vihear, built under the Khmer Empire, is long-standing, rooted in a 1907 map and upheld by ICJ rulings, yet the border remains contested.

Why It Matters: Border conflict endangers ancient temple and regional stability.