The Cambodian Civil War saw significant conflict between the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian government forces during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In December 1971, the Khmer Rouge began a series of coordinated assaults that escalated the violence in the region. The attacks were strategically planned to undermine the government's influence and military capabilities, particularly around Kompong Thmar and Ba Ray. As the Khmer Rouge intensified their operations, government forces were increasingly pressured to abandon these key areas, reflecting their vulnerability to well-organized guerrilla tactics.

One of the most notable aspects of this period was the Khmer Rouge's ability to mobilize and sustain a campaign against a government that, despite having American support and resources, struggled to maintain order. The Hagel-led Cambodian forces faced dwindling morale as they retreated from lost ground, indicating the shifting dynamics of power on the battlefield. The losses in Kompong Thmar and Ba Ray were not only tactical setbacks but also symbolic of the broader trajectory of the war, where the Khmer Rouge emerged as a formidable opposition.

Amidst the fighting, civilian population centers were drawn into the conflict, leading to displacement and suffering. The forces of the Khmer Rouge capitalized on the chaos, presenting themselves as liberators to rural populations disillusioned by government corruption and inefficiency. This period marked a turning point in the civil war that would decisively alter the course of Cambodian history, eventually leading to the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975.