Thai soil defended valiantly: the 31st Infantry Regiment stands firm in the last moments at Ta Kwai
Thailand's Elite King's Guard Reclaims Ta Kwai Temple in Border Conflict
In a dramatic turn of events, the 31st Infantry Regiment (King's Guard), a highly elite unit of the Royal Thai Army, successfully reclaimed the ancient Ta Kwai temple from Cambodian forces on July 28, 2025. The temple, strategically located on the Thai-Cambodian border, has become a symbol of territorial defence and national pride for both nations.
The reclaiming of Ta Kwai temple was the culmination of a series of intense clashes between the Thai and Cambodian forces. F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to destroy Cambodian artillery positions and supply routes, paving the way for the 31st Infantry Regiment to advance and reclaim the temple. Cambodia, in response, had deployed its elite BHQ unit to seize the temple, while Thailand launched a counteroffensive led by Colonel Phana Klaewplodthuk with support from the Royal Thai Air Force.
The 31st Infantry Regiment, part of the Royal Thai Army’s King's Guard units, has a long history of involvement in Thai military operations along the Thai-Cambodian border. Their deployment in these conflicts underscores their strategic importance to Thailand's military efforts in maintaining territorial integrity against Cambodian incursions or disputes. The regiment's actions symbolize Thailand’s determination to assert control over contested historical and strategic sites amid complex and long-standing border tensions.
Ta Kwai temple holds military value for controlling patrol and transit routes, especially during heightened border tensions. The hours between the announcement and the ceasefire deadline became a critical window for both militaries to attempt territorial gains, leading to fierce clashes at multiple frontline positions. Eyewitnesses recounted that Thai troops "risked everything" in their final push to retake the temple, and succeeded just five minutes before the ceasefire came into effect.
The ceasefire negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia held in Malaysia resulted in a midnight deadline on July 28, 2025, for both sides to halt hostilities. Despite Cambodia pushing for a midnight start, Thailand initially proposed a ceasefire to take effect in the early evening.
The reclaiming of Ta Kwai temple by the 31st Infantry Regiment now defines their legacy. Their heroic actions not only secured a strategic military victory but also served as a symbolic demonstration of Thailand’s national resolve at a politically sensitive border dispute. The regiment’s involvement in the conflict highlights both their operational significance and symbolic standing in Thai defense and national pride.
- The reclaiming of the Ta Kwai temple by the 31st Infantry Regiment, part of Thailand's elite King's Guard, became a topic of discussion in various general news outlets, as well as in political and war-and-conflicts discussions, given its strategic location and the complex border tensions it represents.
- Amidst the sports headlines of summer 2025, the heroic actions of the 31st Infantry Regiment in retaking the Ta Kwai temple against the Cambodian BHQ unit have sparked comparisons of their resilience and determination to that of athletes facing adversity in their respective sports.
