Thailand, Cambodia sign ceasefire to end border clashes

Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement to end weeks of armed clashes along their shared border, following renewed fighting that erupted in early December over disputed territory. The ceasefire took effect at noon local time.

The agreement calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, no further troop movements near the border, and a ban on military use of each other’s airspace. Thailand has also agreed to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held since earlier fighting in July, once the ceasefire has been fully maintained for 72 hours, a major demand of the Cambodian side.

The December clashes were triggered by long-standing territorial disputes, with both sides accusing the other of violating a previous ceasefire. Thailand conducted airstrikes on Cambodian positions in Banteay Meanchey province, including a Saturday morning raid, which Cambodia reported destroyed houses and infrastructure. Thailand said the operations were carried out after ensuring civilians had evacuated.

Thailand has lost 26 soldiers and one civilian , while Cambodia has not released military casualty figures. Civilian casualties include 44 deaths in Thailand and 30 deaths in Cambodia , with hundreds of thousands evacuated from affected areas on both sides.

The ceasefire agreement follows several days of talks by the General Border Committee, a working-level group of military officials, at a checkpoint between Cambodia’s Pailin province and Thailand’s Chanthaburi province. Thai and Cambodian defence ministers are expected to formally endorse the agreement.

International actors have also supported the process. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that Washington is prepared to facilitate discussions to ensure peace and stability between the two nations.

Amid the conflict, Thai authorities rescued five malnourished wild animals, including a male and female lion, a sun bear, and two Asiatic black bears, from a casino in Cambodia that had reportedly served as a military stronghold. The animals were transported to wildlife breeding centres in Thailand, with the lioness named “Merry” and the lion “Christmas” to mark their safe arrival.

The ceasefire represents a major step toward de-escalating tensions and preventing further clashes along the disputed border, with both nations committing to monitoring, dialogue, and confidence-building measures.