Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian Soldiers As Part of New Ceasefire Deal
Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers who were captured during border clashes in July, in line with a newly agreed ceasefire deal.
The handover, which took place at a border checkpoint, was delayed by a day due to Thai concerns over alleged ceasefire violations, including accusations that Cambodia flew over 250 unmanned aerial vehicles into Thai territory.
The ceasefire, reached on a Saturday, freezes frontline positions, prohibits reinforcements, and permits civilians to return to the border areas.
Thailand described the release as a goodwill gesture, while Cambodia expressed hope that this move would help build mutual trust and confidence between the two nations.
The 18 soldiers, dressed in civilian clothing, were greeted by well-wishers before being handed over to Cambodian authorities.
Earlier clashes this year included five days of fighting in July, resulting in dozens of deaths and displacing thousands of people, with nearly one million forced from their homes.
This ceasefire originated from a July agreement, which was signed in October and brokered by Donald Trump, but tensions caused the agreement to collapse earlier in the month before being reinstated.
