Indonesia officially confirmed on Monday that one of its peacekeepers was killed in Lebanon, where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that a projectile struck one of its positions. The conflict in the Middle East expanded into Lebanon in early March following rocket attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah on Israel.
UNIFIL has stated that its positions have been targeted multiple times since the recent escalation began. On Sunday, a projectile detonated near the town of Adchit al Qusayr, resulting in the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper and injuring three others. The UN force has not yet determined the origin of the projectile but has initiated an investigation to clarify the circumstances.
The Indonesian foreign ministry described the incident as caused by “indirect artillery fire” near Adchit al Qusayr. It extended condolences to the family of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded. Indonesia is coordinating with UNIFIL to facilitate the swift repatriation of the fallen soldier and to ensure the injured receive optimal medical care.
In a strong condemnation of the attack, Indonesia emphasized the necessity of respecting the safety and security of UN peacekeepers at all times and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Adchit al Qusayr is located close to Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, where Israeli forces have been engaged in combat with Hezbollah militants for nearly a month.
Notably, on March 7, three Ghanaian soldiers were also wounded by gunfire in a border town in southern Lebanon, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by UN peacekeepers in the region.
