In brief
A roadside explosion in southern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of two Indonesian peacekeepers, while a third was severely injured. This incident follows another deadly event just a day earlier, further highlighting the increasing dangers faced by peacekeeping forces in the region amid heightened conflict with Hezbollah and Israeli military actions.
In a tragic incident reported on Monday, two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed due to a 'roadside explosion' in southern Lebanon, according to UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) confirmed that the explosion, which destroyed the peacekeepers’ vehicle near Bani Hayyan, resulted from an 'unknown origin.'
A third peacekeeper endured severe injuries, while another was injured in this attack. This incident marked the second fatal incident involving peacekeepers within a span of just 24 hours, as another Indonesian soldier lost his life the previous day from a projectile explosion in Adchit Al Qusayr.
Unifil has indicated that it will conduct investigations to understand the circumstances surrounding both incidents. The initial findings from Monday’s incident suggest the involvement of an improvised explosive device (IED), as indicated by Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. The ongoing violence includes recent Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia.
Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) released their own findings asserting that their troops were not in the area during either explosion. Meanwhile, UN officials have underscored the importance of protecting peacekeepers in Lebanon, stating that their safety is paramount and must be respected by all parties involved.
The two fallen peacekeepers have been identified as Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, while the individual killed on Sunday was identified as Chief Private Farizal Rhomadhon. Unifil expressed condolences to their families, reiterating its commitment to peacekeeping efforts in a region fraught with tension.
Since its establishment in 1978, Unifil has served as a critical buffer between Israel and Lebanon, patrolling the Blue Line— the de facto border— in collaboration with the Lebanese army. Since the mission's inception, roughly 339 peacekeepers have lost their lives, illustrating the challenges faced in achieving stability within the region.
