Bangkok, 29 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A ceasefire agreed between Thailand and Cambodia took effect at midnight, temporarily halting heavy fighting along their shared border, though Thai authorities reported violations by Cambodian forces in several areas just hours later.

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Tuesday afternoon that there had been attacks from Cambodia and that Thailand had responded purely in self-defense.

He said he had written a letter of protest due to Cambodia's violations of the agreement, addressed to, among others, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

The Thai military posted on the social media platform X that "the Cambodian side violated the ceasefire agreement, with disturbances and weapon attacks found in multiple areas."

"The Thai side responded to the situation by deploying front-line forces and using supporting weapons to suppress the Cambodian military operations," it added.

Thailand's government accused Cambodia of "ongoing and arbitrary" attacks in a statement but emphasized that they wanted to adhere to dialogue. Cambodia's Defense Ministry, by contrast, said the situation remained calm.

Thai interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai suggested he agreed with this assessment, reporting of single shoots fired by "undisciplined soldiers" at most.

The premiers of both South-East Asian nations had met Monday in Malaysia and agreed to an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire after days of deadly clashes over a long-simmering border dispute.

The talks were brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and included representatives from the United States and China. Malaysia holds the chair of Association of South-East Asian Nations this year.

Meeting of military leaders to confirm ceasefire

The ceasefire agreement was confirmed Tuesday morning at a meeting of military officials from Thailand and Cambodia at the border. A suspension of all troop movements was agreed, according to a statement from the Thai army.

A meeting of the General Border Committee, already announced Monday, was also confirmed for the coming Monday, Aug. 4. This is a bilateral body for cooperation on border issues.

The cross-border violence, which erupted Thursday along the more than 800-kilometer border, has left people dead and injured on both sides, many of them civilians. More than 200,000 people have been displaced. Each side blames the other for sparking the clashes, and the exact cause of the escalation remains unclear.

Trump calls himself "President of PEACE"

Before the meeting in Malaysia between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Wechayachai, international pressure had been mounting.

US President Donald Trump had urged both governments to halt the fighting, warning that planned US tariffs — set to take effect in early August — would not be lifted unless hostilities ceased.

After the meeting in Malaysia, Trump took to his Truth Social social media platform to write: "I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE ...

"I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade.

"I have now ended many Wars in just six months — I am proud to be the President of PEACE!"