Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia and the troop-contributing countries of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "condemn in the strongest terms" the persistent attacks on UNIFIL, which resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers and the injury of several guards from other countries.
The statement was conveyed by Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Umar Hadi, while reading the "Joint Statement on the Safety and Security of Peacekeepers" at UN Headquarters in New York on April 9, 2026.
The joint statement was initiated by Indonesia and supported by the troop-contributing countries of UNIFIL and several other member states.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the persistent attacks against UNIFIL, including the latest grave attacks which cost the lives of three Indonesian peacekeepers and injured several other peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal and Poland," the joint statement read.
UNIFIL troop-contributing countries, along with other Member States and the European Union, also expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in Lebanon since March 2, 2026, and its impact on the safety and security of peacekeepers.
They reaffirmed full support for UNIFIL and its mandate as enshrined in relevant Security Council resolutions, and urged all parties to take all measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers, in accordance with international law.
"The safety and security of UN peacekeepers is non-negotiable, and we urge the UN and Security Council to exert all tools available at its disposal to strengthen the protection of UN peacekeepers in an increasingly dangerous environment," the joint statement said.
They also called on the UN to continue investigating all attacks against peacekeepers swiftly, in a "transparent and comprehensive manner, and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress."
The statement called for those responsible for the attacks to be held accountable.
Furthermore, the joint statement expressed deep concern over the security situation in Lebanon, particularly the high number of civilian casualties, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and the mass displacement of over one million people.
"We call on parties to urgently return to the cessation of hostilities arrangement of 2024 and respect the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006)," the joint statement said.
They also called for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, a de-escalation of tensions, and a return to the negotiating table for all parties, and reaffirmed their strong commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity.
They also paid tribute to the dedication and devotion of all UN peacekeepers who risk their lives for international peace and security and expressed their appreciation to all troop-contributing countries.
A total of 73 countries and UN observers joined the joint statement, with representatives of other countries including the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Pakistan, Bahrain, Spain, and Malaysia also present during the reading.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2097464/over-60-nations-join-indonesia-to-condemn-attacks-on-unifi