December 31, 2025 | 03:58 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thailand on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained since July, officials confirmed. The release occurred three days after both countries agreed to renew a ceasefire aimed at ending weeks of deadly border clashes.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Al Jazeera, confirmed the soldiers’ return to Cambodia, stating that the move was carried out "as a demonstration of goodwill and building trust."
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense added that the soldiers arrived in Cambodia at 10:00 AM local time, concluding 155 days in Thai detention.
The border clashes reignited earlier this month following the collapse of a previous ceasefire agreement, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, intended to halt fighting that began in July.
The conflict has claimed at least 101 lives and displaced nearly one million people on both sides. Fighting involved fighter jet attacks, rocket fire, and artillery shelling.
The renewed ceasefire was agreed upon over the weekend and came into effect Saturday afternoon. The soldiers’ handover had originally been scheduled for Tuesday, but Thailand postponed it, citing alleged breaches of the ceasefire agreement, which Cambodia denied.
Thousands Begin Returning Home
Following the renewed ceasefire, thousands of refugees started returning to their homes in eastern Thailand on Tuesday, after 72 hours of relative calm along the border areas.
According to Antara, Sa Kaeo Province reported a steady outflow from evacuation centers as the security situation improved.
Out of approximately 17,000 refugees—or 5,000 families—who had been displaced across 40 evacuation centers, only around 20 percent remain. Most of those still in shelters come from areas within the battle zone.
Residents from outer regions, such as Aranyaprathet, have largely returned home, while others are waiting for clearance from explosive ordnance disposal teams.
Authorities expect clearance for high-risk areas to be completed on Wednesday afternoon following sterilization of the area. Local officials emphasized that ensuring the safety of residents remains the top priority during repatriation.
The Burapha Task Force, responsible for security in the region, announced the lifting of curfews in four border districts.
Despite eased tensions, the situation along the frontline remains sensitive. In Ban Nong Chan, Thai soldiers raised the national flag on containers serving as temporary border barriers.
This move is seen as a symbolic assertion of Thai sovereignty, following unconfirmed reports of Cambodian troop movements near the disputed border area.
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