Thai army seizes Cambodian outpost, 18 soldiers taken prisoner

On July 29, eighteen Cambodian soldiers surrendered to Thai forces following the capture of their position inside Thai territory in Si Sa Ket’s Kanthalak district, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) confirmed.

Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, RTA spokesman, said the Second Army Area said the troops gave themselves up at the clash site in the Sam Te area of Kanthalak district, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The incident began when Cambodian troops fired artillery and other projectile weapons from a location near the border into Thai territory. In response, the Second Army Area deployed a cavalry battalion task force to repel the attack.

The Thai cavalry battalion successfully overran the Cambodian position, encountering 18 soldiers who surrendered without resistance.

“Thai troops disarmed the soldiers and treated them strictly in accordance with international humanitarian principles,” Winthai said.

Among those captured were one captain, two sergeant majors (2nd class), twelve sergeants, two corporals, and one private first class.

One Thai soldier sustained bullet wounds to his right hip and left arm and was immediately hospitalised for treatment. Meanwhile, two Cambodian soldiers’ bodies were found at the scene.

The captured Cambodian troops are being held in a secure facility under the jurisdiction of the Second Army Area, where they receive necessities, including clothing, food, drinking water, and medical care, in line with international military and humanitarian standards.

Winthai added that the surrendering soldiers would be processed according to official procedures, and the two deceased would be repatriated to Cambodia with full respect, following international protocols.

“The RTA strictly adheres to human rights, international law, and Thailand’s commitments under the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of captured soldiers and the handling of the deceased,” he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev