Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating newly signed ceasefire agreement

Thailand’s military has accused Cambodia of violating a newly signed ceasefire agreement reached after weeks of deadly clashes that forced nearly a million people to flee their homes.

The Thai military said in a statement that more than 250 drones were spotted flying from the Cambodian side on Sunday night.

The ceasefire came into effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. Both sides agreed to freeze the current front line, ban reinforcements and allow civilians in border areas to return as soon as possible.

It was seen as a breakthrough and came after days of talks with diplomatic encouragement from China and the United States.

The Royal Thai Army said in a statement on Monday that Cambodia’s actions “constitute provocations and violate measures aimed at de-escalating tensions,” adding that they were “not in compliance” with the terms of the ceasefire.

It also said the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held in Thailand since July “may need to be reconsidered”.

The statement added that Thailand “has obligations… if violations of the agreement and national sovereignty continue to occur”.

Cambodia has yet to comment.

Just hours earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the “hard-won” ceasefire and US President Donald Trump praised the “quick and just conclusion”.

Disputes between Thailand and Cambodia are not newdating back more than a century.

The latest heightened tensions came after a group of Cambodian women sang patriotic songs at a controversial temple earlier this year.

A Cambodian soldier was killed in clashes in May. This has brought relations between the two countries to their lowest point in more than a decade.

Five days of fierce fighting along the border left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead. Thousands more civilians have been displaced.

A fragile ceasefire was agreed in July and signed in October. It collapsed earlier this month as new conflicts broke out.

Each side blamed the other for the breakdown of the armistice.