Thailand releases Cambodian soldiers as ceasefire holds, marking a key confidence-building step between Bangkok and Phnom Penh after weeks of deadly border clashes that displaced hundreds of thousands on both sides.
Thailand on Wednesday handed over 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been held in military custody for more than five months, as a renewed ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian neighbours continued to hold.
The release followed days of diplomatic coordination and came amid cautious optimism that the fragile truce could prevent a return to fighting along their disputed frontier.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed that the soldiers crossed back into Cambodian territory at the Prum border gate in Pailin province at about 10am local time.
The troops had been detained for 155 days after being captured during earlier phases of the border conflict, which reignited tensions that have simmered for decades.
Thai authorities described the move as a goodwill gesture aimed at reinforcing trust after both governments agreed over the weekend to halt hostilities.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation demonstrated Bangkok’s commitment to confidence-building measures outlined in the latest ceasefire agreement.
The handover was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which acted as a neutral intermediary between the two sides.
The humanitarian body praised both governments for translating political commitments into concrete action that directly affected those detained by the fighting.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said the release allowed families to reunite and represented an important step towards stabilising the situation along the border.
She stressed that respect for international humanitarian law, including the repatriation of prisoners of war once active hostilities cease, remains essential to rebuilding confidence and laying the groundwork for lasting peace.
The ICRC also confirmed it had visited the Cambodian soldiers on four occasions since their detention in July.
Those visits were intended to monitor detention conditions and ensure they met international standards, as required under humanitarian law.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia erupted earlier this month after the collapse of a previous ceasefire brokered in July with the involvement of the United States and Malaysia.
That earlier truce had been supported by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, but it failed to prevent renewed violence.
Fighting during the most recent escalation lasted around 20 days and proved particularly intense. At least 101 people were killed, while more than half a million civilians were displaced on both sides of the border, according to official figures and humanitarian agencies.
The clashes featured fighter jet sorties, rocket exchanges and sustained artillery barrages, raising fears of a wider conflict between the two neighbours.
Entire communities near the frontier were forced to flee as villages, farmland and infrastructure came under fire.
A renewed ceasefire took effect at noon local time on Saturday, following emergency talks and mounting international concern over the humanitarian toll.
Both governments pledged to halt offensive operations and open communication channels to prevent misunderstandings on the ground.
The release of the Cambodian soldiers had initially been scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed after Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire through drone activity near the border.
Cambodian officials denied the allegations, insisting they had complied fully with the truce terms.
Despite the delay, the successful handover on Wednesday appeared to ease immediate tensions.
Officials from both sides indicated that further steps were being discussed to stabilise the situation and reduce the risk of accidental clashes.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh have agreed to freeze troop movements along the contested frontier and to cooperate on demining efforts across roughly 800 kilometres of disputed territory.
Landmines left from past conflicts remain a serious danger for civilians living near the border.
The underlying dispute dates back more than a century to the colonial era, when France occupied Cambodia and helped draw borders that Thailand has long contested.
Those unresolved boundaries have periodically sparked diplomatic standoffs and military confrontations.
Between 2008 and 2011, Thailand and Cambodia clashed repeatedly over the same stretch of border, resulting in deaths, displacement and damage to historic sites. Although large-scale fighting eventually subsided, the core dispute was never fully resolved.
The contested area is home to several ancient temples built by the Khmer Empire more than 1,000 years ago.
The most famous, Preah Vihear, sits atop a cliff near the border and has been a flashpoint for nationalist sentiment in both countries.
Preah Vihear was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a move that intensified tensions in the late 2000s.
The International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia’s favour in 1962 and reaffirmed that ruling in 2013, but disagreements over surrounding land persist.
Analysts say the latest ceasefire and prisoner release offer a narrow window for diplomacy, but warn that lasting peace will require sustained political will.
Without progress on border demarcation and local confidence-building, the risk of renewed clashes remains high.
For now, the return of the detained soldiers has provided a rare moment of relief for affected families and communities.
Whether the ceasefire holds in the coming weeks will determine if that relief turns into a more durable calm along one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive borders.
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