Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Condemnation against Israeli attacks in Lebanon have intensified after two more Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in the latest explosion in the southern part of the country, where Israel has been expanding its ground invasion.
The two soldiers were killed on Monday, when an "explosion of unknown origin" struck and destroyed a vehicle operated under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) flag near the southern Lebanese village of Bani Hayyan, according to a statement issued by the UN force.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) confirmed the attack on Tuesday, identifying the victims as Capt. Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and First Sgt. Muhammad Nur Ichwan. Two other Indonesian Blue Helmets were wounded and have been receiving treatment at St. George Hospital in Beirut.
At the time of the incident, the peacekeepers were traveling in a UNIFIL logistics convoy to reach another Indonesian contingent position in Adchit al-Qusayr, where a separate explosion took place on Sunday. The incident on Sunday killed Chief Pvt. Farizal Rhomadhon and left two other Indonesian personnel wounded.
President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a trip to Japan and South Korea, extended his condolences to the victims in an Instagram Story posted on Tuesday, his first public statement on the incident.
Foreign Minister Sugiono wrote on X on Tuesday that he had spoken directly with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, in which the minister condemned the repeated "heinous" and "utterly unacceptable" acts against peacekeepers.
"In this context, we call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, and for a swift, thorough and transparent investigation," Sugiono wrote.
The killing of three peacekeepers within two consecutive days marked the most serious incident reported so far by the Indonesian contingent at the UNIFIL since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Israeli forces advanced in multiple locations in southern Lebanon to drive out Hezbollah, which has been launching retaliatory attacks on Israel after the killing of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint United States-Israel strikes against Iran.
UNIFIL has about 7,300 peacekeepers patrolling the Blue Line demarcation separating southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Indonesia has been regularly sending troops to serve on rotation with UNIFIL since 2006. The country is currently the second largest contributor to the force with 743 troops and 13 staff members.
UN Peace Operations head Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the incidents and reasserted that peacekeepers "must never be a target".
"We also remain seriously concerned about several aggressive behavior incidents against UNIFIL peacekeepers in the past couple of days," he went on to say.
Lacroix met with Indonesian Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Umar Hadi, on Monday, with the latter demanding transparent investigation into the deadly attacks and the security of UN peacekeeping personnel.
On Tuesday evening, the UNSC held a session on the situation in the Middle East. At the time of writing, the session has yet to start.
Bringing home peacekeepers?
The incidents in Lebanon came as the government is facing growing questions over its participation in the US-led Board of Peace initiative for Gaza, including a plan to send peacekeeping troops under the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the war-torn enclave.
After the incidents, calls have been intensified from lawmakers and political parties for the government to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon over security concerns.
Dave Laksono, deputy chair of House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, said the safety of Indonesian troops must be prioritized amid a peace mission in the war-torn country.
"If it truly cannot be deemed safe, then perhaps the operation should be halted first until the situation becomes truly conducive," said the Golkar Party lawmaker. "The military mission should be redefined, and the tasks and responsibilities of our troops should be clearly outlined."
Addressing Sunday's attack, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) secretary-general Muhammad Kholid said on Monday that the government should "evaluate the continuation of Indonesia's troop deployment in the UNIFIL mission", should there be no security guaranteed by the UN.
He also urged the government to reconsider its decision to join the Board of Peace, which includes Israel.
Responding to the calls for troops' withdrawal, Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait reasserted Indonesia's commitment to its role in the UN-mandated global peacekeeping mission.
"Any future decisions will consider the development of the situation, the results of evaluation and our coordination with the UN," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon Dicky Komar told the Post on Tuesday that his office is coordinating with many parties to consider options to repatriate the remains of the dead peacekeepers and treat the wounded ones.
The embassy also urged any Indonesian nationals in Lebanon to prioritize safety, limit mobility and stay vigilant.
Source: https://asianews.network/outrage-after-three-indonesian-peacekeepers-killed