27 July 2025
Takeaway
Key Interventions by H.E. LTG. Maly Socheata, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson:
1. Thai troops have continued their blatant and unlawful invasion of Cambodian territory, showing total disregard for international law. These ongoing violations have expanded beyond the disputed border zones to other areas, with Thailand arbitrarily targeting Cambodian border sites in defiance of international law. The attacks—broad in geographic scope and indiscriminate in nature—have intensified daily, deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure, including temples, health centers, gasoline stations, markets, villages, and the World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear Temple. These assaults have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
2. Day by day, the Thai side continues to aggressively deploy more troops and intensified attacks against Cambodia. It has taken no meaningful steps to de-escalate the conflict, despite mounting pressure from the international community. The threats and unlawful aggression by Thai forces have continued to escalate in several areas within Cambodia’s sovereign territory.
3. The situation of the fighting in the 4th Military Region yesterday, as of 6:00 a.m. on July 27:
• At 2:00 a.m., Thailand shelled into the Veal Intri area.
• At 2:30 a.m., Thailand shelled a series of artillery attacks on Tathav, Ghost mountain areas, (with drones continuously hovering over the area).
• At 4:50 a.m., Thailand began heavy artillery attacks into Tamoan Thom and Ta Krabey temples.
• At 6:00 a.m., Thailand began to launch additional infantry attack into Ghost mountain.
4. As of July 26, 2025, Thai forces have continued heavy shelling across all combat positions, from Ta Moan Thom Temple to the Mom Bei areas. Thailand is deploying heavy weaponry, including artillery, drones equipped with warheads, cluster bombs, and aircraft firing rockets and dropping bombs with great intensity. At several locations, including Ghost mountain, the road leading to An Se, and the road up to Preah Vihear Temple, Thai forces have caused significant destruction. Meanwhile, our forces continue to fight back, fiercely resisting and firmly defending their positions.
5. Regarding the situation on the battlefield in the 5th Military Zone:
a) (Banteay Meanchey Province): The Thai side continued its aggressive actions with reconnaissance aircraft (hovering twice over the areas). In Banteay Meanchey Province, the Thai site has deployed troops, mobile tanks and armoured tanks, which constitutes a threatening act of war and violates MOU-2000, Article 5.
b) (Battambang Province): Thailand has deployed 220 troops along the Thai border next to Sampov Loun District, Battambang Province.
6. Maritime Situation at Koh Kood and Koh Chang: The situation has remained calm and unchanged. It is under the authority of our troops as usual, and the situation on the Thai side is also not noteworthy. However, The aggression actions continued last night, between 19:00 and 21:56, with a total of 5 drones flying into Cambodian territory.
7. Thai Army aggressive acts have forced the evacuation of residents in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Pursat provinces, and the number of evacuating families has risen to approximately 25,600, affecting nearly 80,000 individuals. As of 12:00 yesterday, 536 schools across 14 districts and five provinces were closed, impacting 130,000 teachers and students.
8. The Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia strongly condemns the armed aggression by the Thai military forces, which has led to conflict and disrupted peace and stability along the Cambodia-Thai border. This act constitutes a serious violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty, threatens regional peace, and violates Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any nation.
9.Cambodia reaffirms that the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have demonstrated significant restraint and professionalism, targeting only Thai military areas which is an exercise of the right to self-defense in accordance with international law, as outlined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Cambodia demands that the Thai side stop spreading false information intended to distract from its violations of international law by misrepresenting Cambodia. Cambodia will not yield to coercion or intimidation in any form.
