PHNOM PENH, March 5 – A delegation of foreign military attachés visited Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province on Thursday to inspect unexploded ordnance left from the 2025 border fighting with Thailand, as authorities continue clearance operations and monitoring of the ceasefire along the frontier.
According to the Ministry of National Defence, the inspection took place at around 10:35 a.m. and was coordinated by Cambodian defence officials. The visiting delegation examined unexploded munitions discovered around the Preah Vihear temple complex and received briefings on the current implementation of the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire that took effect on Dec. 27, 2025.
Officials from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) told the delegation that 1,223 pieces of unexploded ordnance and munitions remnants have been identified in the Preah Vihear temple area, which Cambodian authorities say were used during Thai military attacks in the 2025 clashes.
The temple complex, an 11th-century site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, suffered structural damage during the fighting and remains surrounded by unexploded artillery shells and other munitions that must be cleared before full restoration and tourism activities can resume.
CMAC officials said clearance operations are ongoing under government guidelines, with priority given to ensuring the safety of nearby communities and protecting the historic site.
The 2025 border crisis between Cambodia and Thailand involved heavy artillery exchanges and repeated clashes along disputed frontier areas, including Preah Vihear province. The confrontation eventually ended with a ceasefire agreement, but large areas remain contaminated with unexploded ordnance from the fighting.
Cambodian authorities say the presence of UXO continues to pose risks to civilians and recovery efforts in the region, making demining operations a critical step toward restoring normal activity near the temple complex.
