UNESCO-ICOMOS Report Finds 'Incomparable' War Damage to Preah Vihear Temple

A joint UNESCO-ICOMOS Advisory Mission, on site March 1-6, 2026, published its report documenting 142 damaged areas from the July 2025 fighting and 420 from the December 2025 fighting at Preah Vihear temple. The mission described the scale of destruction as 'incomparable' with earlier rounds of conflict at the site, said 'no area was spared,' and found the temple under 'serious and specific danger,' citing destroyed architectural elements, mutilated decorative features, shrapnel-scarred walls, destabilized cliffs, and explosive remnants of war scattered across the site. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said 'Preah Vihear Temple is not only Cambodia's heritage, but also the heritage of humanity,' calling for sustained international cooperation on ceasefire guarantees, UXO clearance and conservation.