• Cambodia urges Thailand to return 20 soldiers captured after recent border clashes.
• Intense fighting has resulted in at least 43 deaths and 300,000 displaced.
• Thailand has sent home two soldiers while maintaining custody of the others due to legal processes.
• Peace talks facilitated by Malaysia and U.S. President Trump are set to take place soon.

Cambodia has formally requested Thailand to return 20 of its soldiers who were taken captive amid intense border clashes, which recently resulted in at least 43 deaths. The troops were captured hours after a truce was implemented on July 31 that halted a series of deadly skirmishes centered around contested territory between the two nations. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that "we call on the Thai side to send all 20 military personnel back to Cambodia as soon as possible," highlighting the urgency of the situation, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

The clashes, which involved exchanges of artillery fire and air strikes, forced nearly 300,000 people to flee their homes and have intensified tensions between the two countries. Thailand's military has asserted that the soldiers will only be returned after they undergo necessary legal procedures due to their alleged illegal entry into Thai territory. "The Cambodian soldiers intruded on Thai territory and the army took them into custody, treating them based on humanitarian principles," stated Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub, according to Reuters and Bangkok Post.

In a significant development, Thailand announced the return of two wounded Cambodian troops as a goodwill gesture ahead of upcoming diplomatic meetings. The acting Thai Defense Minister said the remaining 18 soldiers are still under investigation, leading to friction as both nations accuse each other of ceasefire violations. Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s Defence Ministry, reiterated the call for the immediate and unconditional return of all detained troops, asserting that their detention contradicts international humanitarian law as reported by TRT Global and Al Jazeera.

As tensions remain high, both countries are preparing for critical talks scheduled in Malaysia aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire. These negotiations, requested by U.S. President Donald Trump, seek to broker a path forward in the disputed border area, a region marked by historic conflicts over territory. The discussions will focus on military cooperation and resolution of border security while excluding territorial claims, as stated by Thai Acting Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.