THAILAND/CAMBODIA, July 25, 2025 (The Daily Jagran): A sharp escalation in fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces has left at least 14 people dead and forced the displacement of more than one hundred thousand civilians, marking the most intense confrontation between the Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade. According to Thai authorities, The violence broke out on Thursday and continued through Friday, impacting several provinces along the long-contested border where each side accuses the other for the renewed hostilities. The fighting, which included small arms fire, rocket attacks, artillery barrages, and airstrikes, started soon after a landmine explosion on Wednesday wounded five Thai soldiers. The explosion fueled a sudden worsening of diplomatic relations, including the expulsion of ambassadors from both nations.

The renewed violence has escalated around the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, a Hindu temple that has been a source of tension between the two nations for years because it sits on the disputed border. The International Court of Justice granted Cambodia sovereignty over the temple region in 1962. The decision became a significant cause of friction between the two countries. The new tensions have brought the long-standing border dispute back into sharp relief, with the age-old temples of Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear at the heart of rival historical and nationalistic claims. With thousands having been displaced and diplomatic relations strained, regional leaders and international commentators are calling for both sides to return to negotiations and prevent any more bloodshed. As people on both sides of the border prepare for further violence, the world looks on to see if the centuries-old Hindu temple that has weathered so much of history can be saved from the devastation of modern warfare.

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https://www.thedailyjagran.com/world/thailand-cambodia-clash-prasat-ta-muen-thom-sacred-hindu-temple-caused-worst-border-conflict-in-years-10255236

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