The release occurred at the Thailand-Cambodia border, with Thailand citing goodwill, confidence-building, and adherence to international humanitarian principles
Bangkok
Thailand released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war on Wednesday, fulfilling the terms of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending months of bitter fighting along the Thailand-Cambodia border. The soldiers had been held for five months following cross-border clashes over territorial claims.
The release took place at the border checkpoint between Thailand’s Chanthaburi province and Cambodia’s Pailin province. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said the repatriation was carried out as a gesture of goodwill, confidence-building, and adherence to international humanitarian principles.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry welcomed the move, stating it would help create a peaceful and stable environment and support the full normalization of relations between the two nations. Video footage showed crowds cheering and waving flags along the route from the border to the city of Pailin, where the soldiers were transported before being flown to Phnom Penh.
The ceasefire, signed Saturday by the defense ministers of both countries, stipulated that the soldiers would be freed if hostilities remained paused for 72 hours. Thai authorities delayed the release by a day to monitor border activity, citing the presence of 250 Cambodian drones.
The circumstances of the soldiers’ capture remain disputed. Cambodian officials said their soldiers approached Thai positions peacefully, while Thai authorities claimed the Cambodian soldiers entered Thai territory with hostile intent. Originally, 20 soldiers were captured, with two repatriated earlier for medical reasons.
The July ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia and supported by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, sought to end ongoing violence. Despite prior agreements, minor clashes and propaganda exchanges continued, escalating into heavy fighting in early December, which resulted in casualties on both sides.
The release of the 18 soldiers marks a key step toward de-escalation and rebuilding trust between the two neighboring countries.
