In a tragic turn of events, two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on March 30 in southern Lebanon when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle, according to statements from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
A third peacekeeper sustained severe injuries, while another was hurt in the incident. This marks the second fatal incident involving Indonesian troops within 24 hours, as another peacekeeper was killed by a projectile in Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday night.
Unifil announced that it has initiated investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding these attacks. The fatalities come amid escalating military actions by Israel against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, which has recently launched retaliatory rocket attacks into Israeli territory.
Unifil expressed its condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased, emphasizing the obligations under international law for all parties to ensure the safety of UN personnel. They condemned any deliberate attacks against peacekeepers as grave violations of international humanitarian law, urging for an end to the violence that has inflicted a heavy toll during ongoing conflicts.
Unifil was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1978 to serve as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, patrolling the Blue Line that serves as the de facto border. Since the mission began, approximately 339 peacekeepers have lost their lives.
The recent escalation follows a ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which has failed to maintain peace, as Israel continues to carry out near-daily strikes on Hezbollah targets, citing the need to safeguard its northern communities.
