Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a new ceasefire agreement aimed at ending weeks of intense border fighting over competing territorial claims, marking a renewed attempt to stabilize the volatile frontier.
The agreement took effect at noon local time and calls for an immediate halt to military movements and the use of airspace for military purposes, following some of the fiercest clashes in years between the two neighbors.
Only Thailand has carried out airstrikes during the latest fighting, including strikes in Cambodia earlier on Saturday, according to the Cambodian Defense Ministry.
The ceasefire was signed by the countries’ defense ministers, Tea Seiha of Cambodia and Nattaphon Narkphanit of Thailand, at a border checkpoint after three days of lower-level military talks.
The deal reaffirms commitments made under a previous ceasefire reached in July and later formalized in October, both of which were brokered with Malaysia’s involvement and supported by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Under the new agreement, Thailand is expected to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held since fighting in July, provided the ceasefire holds for 72 hours.
The text also calls on both sides to adhere to international agreements banning the deployment of land mines and to cooperate on humanitarian demining operations in border areas.
Another clause commits both governments to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news related to the conflict.
The agreement further provides for renewed efforts to demarcate the disputed border and for cooperation against transnational crimes, including online scam networks operating in the region.
The fighting has taken a heavy toll on civilians and soldiers on both sides, with hundreds of thousands displaced along the border.
Thailand says it has lost 26 soldiers and one civilian since Dec. 7 and has reported dozens of civilian deaths, while Cambodia says at least 30 civilians have been killed and many more injured.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha said the ceasefire would allow displaced residents to return home and resume daily life.
The fragility of the truce was underscored within hours when Thailand protested that one of its soldiers was permanently disabled after stepping on an anti-personnel land mine.
Thai officials have stressed that the coming days will test whether the ceasefire can lead to lasting calm and the eventual return of captured soldiers.