Cambodia Seeks Safe Return of 18 Soldiers as ICRC Confirms Their Well-Being

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct. 15, 2025) — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed that 18 Cambodian soldiers held by the Thai military are safe and in good health, and pledged continued support for efforts to reunite them with their families.

The update was shared during a courtesy call and working meeting between Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth, secretary of state at the Ministry of National Defense and chairman of the Command Post Information, and a delegation from the ICRC led by Jürg Montani, head of the ICRC Regional Delegation.

Montani briefed Cambodian officials on the ICRC’s third visit to the detained Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) soldiers, who were captured by Thai forces on July 29, 2025 — after a ceasefire agreement had already taken effect.

He confirmed that all 18 soldiers remain in good health under Thai military custody and that the ICRC had delivered a second batch of family messages from the detainees, which will be forwarded to their families via the Cambodian Red Cross.

Cambodia continues to pursue the soldiers’ safe return through diplomatic and humanitarian channels.

The Royal Government, the Ministry of National Defense and the RCAF reaffirmed their commitment to the soldiers’ welfare, stating that no Cambodian soldier will ever be abandoned under any circumstances.