Thailand repatriated two wounded Cambodian soldiers on Friday at a border checkpoint between Surin and Oddar Meanchey provinces, following a fragile ceasefire that halted five days of intense fighting over disputed border territories. The soldiers, a sergeant with a broken arm and hip gash and a second lieutenant suffering from battle fatigue, took an oath not to engage in further hostilities, according to Thailand’s 2nd Army Region. However, 18 other Cambodian soldiers captured on July 29 remain in Thai custody, sparking demands from Cambodia for their immediate release under international humanitarian law.

Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata claimed the soldiers approached Thai positions for post-ceasefire greetings, but Thai officials allege they entered Thai territory with hostile intent. Thailand insists it is following legal procedures to investigate the detainees’ actions before their release. The Cambodian Human Rights Committee, in a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, alleged torture and denial of medical care for the two returned soldiers, demanding a UN-led investigation, though no evidence was provided.

The conflict, rooted in a century-old dispute over border demarcations and temples like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom, killed at least 43 people—mostly civilians—and displaced over 300,000 since July 24. Both nations accuse each other of targeting civilians and using banned weapons, with Cambodia alleging Thai cluster munitions and Thailand reporting Cambodian rocket attacks on civilian areas.

Also Read: Thailand Frees Cambodian Soldiers Before Ceasefire Talks

On Friday, both countries hosted foreign diplomats to showcase damage from alleged attacks, while social media saw nationalist feuding and mutual accusations of hacking and propaganda. Military talks scheduled for August 4 aim to reinforce the ceasefire, brokered by Malaysia and supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, but will not address the underlying territorial dispute.

Also Read: Ceasefire Chaos: Thailand, Cambodia Clash Despite Peace Talks