Fragile Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Tested by Mortar Incident

A crater in front of a damaged police station following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in Banteay Meanchey province in Cambodia on Jan. 3.

Source: AFP/Getty Images

The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia was tested Tuesday after a Thai soldier was injured by a mortar ammunition accidentally fired across the border.

The incident comes less than a week after Thailand repatriated 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July, one of the few signs of easing tensions between the Southeast Asian neighbors. Their return followed a Dec. 27 ceasefire urged by US President Donald Trump and a meeting between the two sides in China with Xi Jinping’s top diplomat.