Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday by a roadside explosion in southern Lebanon, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix has said, citing the findings of an initial investigation.
In a separate statement, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) stated that the explosion was of unknown origin and destroyed the peacekeepers’ vehicle near Bani Hayyan.
A third peacekeeper was severely injured in the explosion, and a fourth was also hurt, Unifil said.
This was the second fatal incident in 24 hours, with another peacekeeper—who was also Indonesian—killed on Sunday when a projectile, of unknown origin, exploded in Adchit Al Qusayr, southern Lebanon.
Unifil has launched investigations to determine the specifics surrounding both incidents.
The initial investigation suggests the incident on Monday involved a roadside explosion striking the convoy, according to Lacroix, with spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric suggesting that their deaths were likely caused by an IED.
Dujarric indicated that the previous incident was likely due to an explosive that landed near the position held by the peacekeepers.
The deaths occur against the backdrop of increasing tensions as the Israeli military recently announced an escalation of ground and air attacks against Hezbollah.
In a statement released via Telegram, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that the Bani Hayyan explosion was not caused by IDF activity, confirming that their troops were not in the vicinity of the explosion.
On Tuesday, the IDF reported the deaths of four of their soldiers in combat in southern Lebanon, with one severely wounded.
Dujarric emphasized the need for protections for peacekeepers, stating they are soldiers sent there on behalf of the international community and everyone needs to ensure they are protected and never targeted.
Antara, an Indonesian government-owned news agency, identified the soldiers that were killed: Chief Private Farizal Rhomadhon (on Sunday), Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, and First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan (on Monday).
Unifil, established by the UN Security Council in 1978, serves to buffer between Israel and Lebanon while ensuring stability along the border. The peacekeeping force cooperates with the Lebanese army and patrols the Blue Line, the de facto border separating Lebanon and Israel.
Since its establishment, about 339 peacekeepers have lost their lives while on mission. Despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024, Israeli forces have continued near-daily operations against Hezbollah, leading to significant casualties within Lebanon, affecting civilians, including children.
