AKP Phnom Penh, July 03, 2026 --

A senior Cambodian defence official has expressed deep gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its role in securing the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers who were illegally detained by Thai forces, during a high-level meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

H.E. Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence, hosted a courtesy call and working discussion with Mr. Jürg Montani, Head of the ICRC’s Regional Delegation for Asia, and his delegation.

During the talks, H.E. Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth thanked the ICRC for its continued and active support to Cambodia, specifically praising the organisation’s facilitation efforts that led to the soldiers' release. He described the operation as a highly significant humanitarian contribution.

In response, Mr. Montani expressed satisfaction in assisting with the release and reaffirmed the ICRC’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening cooperation with Cambodia moving forward.

The Secretary of State also briefed the delegation on the current situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border. He reiterated the Ministry of National Defence’s firm stance on resolving all border issues peacefully, in line with international law and in strict compliance with existing bilateral conventions, treaties, and agreements between the two nations.

Both sides concluded the meeting by highlighting the strong cooperation between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the ICRC. They jointly reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law, including International Humanitarian Law (IHL), to address humanitarian needs and contribute to regional peace, stability, and safety.

By C. Nika