AKP Phnom Penh, July 23, 2026 --

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Thai military's armed aggression against Cambodia, which falls on July 24, 2026, Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra has recalled the events marking the start of the conflict.

On his social media networks, the Minister said that on July 24, 2025, after a series of provocations and repeated hostile acts, the Thai military launched an armed attack on Cambodian territory by opening fire on Cambodian forces carrying out their duties to protect the Kingdom's territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. The attack began in the Tamone Thom Temple area of Oddar Meanchey province before spreading along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra stressed that the aggression was not an isolated incident. Nearly two months earlier, on the morning of May 28, 2025, Thai troops entered an area where Cambodian forces were stationed and fatally shot a Cambodian soldier, Sergeant Suon Roan.

According to the Minister, these incidents clearly demonstrated a pattern of repeated provocations, the use of force, and violations of Cambodia's sovereignty that ultimately escalated into the large-scale attack of July 24, 2025.

He said July 24, 2025, is therefore not an ordinary date but one that should be remembered in honour of the sacrifices made by Cambodia's armed forces, border police, national defence forces and citizens, while preserving the historical truth against distortion.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra reiterated that Cambodia did not initiate the war but has every legitimate right to defend its territory, people and sovereignty against any external aggression.

The Minister also shared images showing damage to hospitals, schools, pagodas and other civilian facilities, describing them as painful evidence of indiscriminate attacks by the Thai military on Cambodian territory.

He said that during the armed aggression from July 24 to 27, 2025, Thai forces used heavy weapons and fighter aircraft to bomb various locations inside Cambodia, regardless of whether the targets were civilian sites, residential communities or healthcare facilities.

According to H.E. Neth Pheaktra, attacks on religious sites and civilian areas were not accidental but reflected the indiscriminate, brutal and dangerous nature of the Thai military's use of force against Cambodia.

He described the destruction as a lasting scar in Cambodia's history and evidence that the use of fighter aircraft and heavy weapons on Cambodian territory demonstrated aggressive intent, violations of sovereignty, and disregard for international law.

"The shells may destroy hospitals, schools and pagodas, but they cannot destroy the truth, our memory, or Cambodia's determination to defend its sovereignty, peace and the future of its people," the Minister said. "Cambodia remembers. The Cambodian people remember. And history will record every act of aggression, every bomb dropped and every act of destruction inflicted upon Cambodian territory."

In 2025, the Thai military launched two armed offensives against Cambodia's territorial integrity: the first from July 24 to 27 and the second from Dec. 7 to 27.

By C. Nika