Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers as part of a renewed ceasefire agreement between the two neighbouring countries, easing tensions after weeks of intense and deadly fighting along their shared border. Officials from both sides confirmed the development, which comes after nearly three weeks of clashes that left more than 100 people dead and forced over half a million civilians to flee their homes.
The ceasefire, which came into effect at noon on Saturday, brought an end to roughly 20 days of sustained hostilities that included fighter jet missions, heavy artillery exchanges and rocket fire. The violence marked one of the most serious flare-ups between Thailand and Cambodia in recent years, severely disrupting life in border regions on both sides.
Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said the soldiers were handed over at a designated border checkpoint at around 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, after having spent 155 days in Thai custody. Battambang province governor Sok Lou welcomed their return, describing the soldiers as “heroic” and praising their endurance during detention.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release and stated that the Cambodian soldiers had been treated in line with international humanitarian law throughout their detention. Officials said the handover was carried out in accordance with the terms agreed upon under the ceasefire framework.
The fighting had reignited earlier this month after a previous truce — brokered with the involvement of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — collapsed. Under the terms of the renewed ceasefire agreed over the weekend, Thailand committed to releasing the detained soldiers once calm had been maintained for at least 72 hours.
Although the release was originally expected a day earlier, it was briefly delayed after Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire, a claim Phnom Penh strongly denied. Despite the delay, the transfer ultimately went ahead as planned.
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which supervised the handover, said the release was a significant step forward. “Today’s repatriation allows families to reunite and represents an important move toward implementing the commitments made in the Joint Statement,” she said.
The United States also welcomed the development, calling the release of the soldiers a constructive step toward rebuilding trust and improving relations between the two countries. In a statement, the US State Department said the ceasefire and subsequent prisoner exchange were positive signs for long-term stability in the region.
