Ceasefire Holds: US Praises Cambodia and Thailand After Prisoner Release

The United States has welcomed the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers by Thailand. The soldiers were returned on Monday. This action is a direct result of a ceasefire agreement made on December 27. The deal ended recent deadly clashes between the two nations over a disputed border area near an ancient temple. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department praised the "resolute efforts" of both governments. They said Cambodia and Thailand are working to uphold the ceasefire. The return of the soldiers is seen as a key test for the fragile peace. Both sides have now withdrawn troops from the contested zone. The long-standing border dispute centers on land surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but the surrounding territory remains contested.