The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the attack in Lebanon that resulted in the death of a TNI soldier serving as a member of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs further demanded a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the tragic incident.
“Indonesia strongly condemns the incident and calls for a thorough and transparent investigation,” stated the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via its X account @Kemlu_RI on Monday (30/03).
Separately, Dave Laksono, a politician from the Golkar Party and a member of the House of Representatives, urged the Indonesian government to reconsider the presence of TNI soldiers in Lebanon.
He suggested that, if necessary, an immediate withdrawal of TNI forces from the country should be carried out.
“It would be beneficial for the government to undertake, what is called, a withdrawal or an evaluation of the presence of our soldiers in Lebanon,” he told reporters in Jakarta on Monday (30/03).
Earlier, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his X account on Monday (30/03), reported that one TNI member had died and another sustained serious injuries.
“I strongly condemn Sunday’s incident that killed an Indonesian peacekeeper from @UNIFIL_ amid hostilities between Israel & Hezbollah,” he wrote.
He conveyed his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen peacekeeper, as well as to Indonesia. Guterres called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.
As of now, no official statement has detailed the identity of the TNI soldier who died in the attack.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that three other TNI members were injured following “indirect artillery fire” in the vicinity of the Indonesian UNIFIL contingent’s position near Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday (29/03).
Reuters news agency reported that a peacekeeper was killed after a projectile exploded at one of the posts near the village of Adchit al-Qusayr, southern Lebanon, on Sunday. UNIFIL, Reuters added, also mentioned that another peacekeeper was critically injured.
UNIFIL has reportedly stated that it does not yet know the origin of the projectile.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be fully respected in accordance with international law.
“Any form of threat against peacekeeping forces is unacceptable and undermines collective efforts to maintain peace and stability,” the Indonesian Foreign Ministry asserted.
In a further statement, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its strong condemnation of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
Indonesia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also called on all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Furthermore, it urged them to “cease attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure, and return to dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further escalation and advance peace,” affirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Separately, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense clarified that the TNI soldier who died in the Lebanon attack was in the midst of a situation involving mutual artillery exchanges.
“It needs to be conveyed that the incident occurred amidst mutual artillery exchanges,” said Brig. Gen. TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense Secretariat General, to Kompas.com on Monday (30/03).
“The clarification process is still being carried out by UNIFIL,” he added.
According to him, there were casualties among the TNI soldiers: one deceased, one seriously injured, and two lightly injured.
This report will be updated periodically.
- What are the risks for TNI in the Gaza Board of Peace program, placed in one of Hamas’s combat infrastructure centers?
- Stories of Indonesian citizens studying in Lebanon amidst the escalation of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict
- History of Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Summary
The Indonesian government has strongly condemned the attack in Lebanon that resulted in the death of a TNI soldier serving with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), also injuring three others. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded a comprehensive and transparent investigation, additionally condemning Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and calling for respect for its sovereignty. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the incident, extended condolences, and urged all parties to uphold international law.
Following the tragedy, Golkar Party politician Dave Laksono, a member of the House of Representatives, urged the Indonesian government to reconsider or withdraw TNI forces from Lebanon. The Ministry of Defense clarified the incident occurred amidst “mutual artillery exchanges,” resulting in one deceased, one seriously injured, and two lightly injured personnel. UNIFIL is currently investigating the origin of the projectile that caused the casualties.