Thailand releases 18 Cambodian POWs as ceasefire inches forward

Thailand has released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, three days after Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to a renewed ceasefire aimed at ending weeks of deadly border fighting.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence said the soldiers crossed back into Cambodian territory at 10am local time (03:00 GMT) on Wednesday, after spending 155 days in Thai custody.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the handover, describing it as a gesture of trust. The repatriation was carried out “as a demonstration of goodwill and confidence-building”, the ministry said in a statement.

The transfer was coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which welcomed the move as a concrete step following the ceasefire agreement.

“Today’s release and repatriation of prisoners of war allows families to be reunited and marks an important step in translating the commitments outlined in the Joint Statement into action,” ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said. “Respect for international humanitarian law, which includes the repatriation of prisoners of war at the end of active hostilities, is critical to helping build confidence between parties and supporting the path to lasting peace,” she added.

The ICRC said it had visited the detained soldiers four times since their capture in July to monitor conditions and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.

The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia reignited earlier this month after the collapse of a previous ceasefire brokered in July with the help of United States President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Fighting in December lasted 20 days, killing at least 101 people and displacing more than half a million civilians on both sides. The violence included air strikes, rocket fire and sustained artillery exchanges.

A renewed ceasefire took effect at noon (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. The soldiers were initially expected to be released on Tuesday, but Thailand delayed the handover over alleged ceasefire violations, claims Cambodia denied.

Beyond the immediate truce, Bangkok and Phnom Penh have agreed to freeze troop movements and cooperate on demining efforts along their disputed 800-kilometre border.

That border dispute, rooted in colonial-era maps from the early 1900s, remains unresolved. The area has sparked repeated confrontations, including clashes from 2008 to 2011 and again this year.

The frontier is also home to several ancient Khmer temples, including Preah Vihear, the UNESCO-listed site that has twice been awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice, in rulings in 1962 and 2013.