Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement on Saturday after weeks of deadly border clashes. During the 3rd Special Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee meeting the two countries agreed to put an end to renewed combat that erupted in early December.
Ministry of National Defence Kingdom of Cambodia released a press release on 27 December announcing the ceasefire agreement: "The 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee (GBC) adopted and signed the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee (GBC) between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand, and reaffirmed their firm commitment to fully implement the ceasefire and seek peace, stability and security for the people living along the Cambodia-Thailand border."
Hours after the two countries held talks to put an end to border clashes, Cambodia reported that Thailand struck a site in the country's northwest. According to Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, F-16 fighter jets were used in the airstrike on Saturday. Four bombs targeting Serei Saophoan, located in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey, were dropped on Saturday morning, AP reported.
The recent airstrike follows Friday's bombing when Thailand dropped 40 bombs on a target in Chok Chey village in the same province, Cambodia said. Over the 26 December strike, Thailand’s military said that a joint army-air force operation was conducted to protect Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, which borders Banteay Meanchey and where the two nations have overlapping territorial claims.
While each side blames the other for breaching the ceasefire and describes its current military actions as being taken in self-defense, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Friday that Thailand expected Cambodia to agree to a 72-hour ceasefire. Thailand announced that it would consider repatriating Cambodian prisoners of war if the ceasefire successfully implemented.
“If Cambodia is not sincere about a ceasefire, peace will not be possible, and Thailand will have no choice but to proceed with full-scale military operations to defend its sovereignty,” AP quoted Air Marshal Jackkrit Thammavichai a spokesperson for Thailand’s air force as saying.