AKP Phnom Penh, December 16, 2025 -- Despite the continued renewed hostilities by Thai forces, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence has reaffirmed that it has not forgotten the 18 Cambodian soldiers who were illegally captured after the ceasefire took effect in July.

H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of National Defence, said that with the permission of H.E. Gen. Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, H.E. Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth, the Ministry's Secretary of State, held a working discussion with a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), led by Mr. Jürg Montani, Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation.

The meeting focused on the fourth visit to the 18 Cambodian soldiers who were captured by the Thai side on July 29, 2025, after the ceasefire agreement had come into effect.

According to the ICRC’s fourth visit, all 18 soldiers were confirmed to be safe and in good health. The ICRC also delivered a fourth batch of family messages from the detained soldiers, which will be forwarded to their families through the Cambodian Red Cross.

H.E. Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth called on the ICRC to continue monitoring and assessing the well-being, safety, and living conditions of the 18 soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law. He also urged the ICRC to help call on the Thai military to immediately cease all hostilities, withdraw its forces from Cambodia’s sovereign territory, and refrain from aggressive actions that threaten peace and stability in the region.

The Ministry of National Defence, H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata affirmed, has been and will continue to make tireless efforts through all available mechanisms to secure the release and safe return of the 18 soldiers as soon as possible.

By Heng Panha