During the Vietnam War, Cambodia served as a crucial sanctuary for North Vietnamese soldiers and National Liberation Front (NLF) guerrillas. The Cambodian government, led by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, permitted these forces to utilize Cambodian territory for launching attacks against South Vietnam. This strategic decision provided the North Vietnamese and NLF with a significant advantage, complicating the efforts of the United States and South Vietnamese forces to counter the insurgency. The presence of these forces in Cambodia heightened tensions in the region and ultimately led to U.S. military operations in Cambodia, known as the Cambodian Incursion, aimed at disrupting enemy supply lines and bases.