Ask Onix
UN confirms deaths of Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon
Two Indonesian soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) died on Monday when their vehicle was struck by a roadside explosion near Bani Hayyan, according to the UN peacekeeping chief.
Initial findings point to improvised explosive device
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN's top peacekeeping official, told the Security Council that an initial investigation indicated the convoy was hit by a roadside blast. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, later stated the deaths were "most likely" caused by an improvised explosive device (IED).
The explosion also left one peacekeeper severely injured and another hurt, Unifil said in a statement. The blast destroyed the vehicle, though its origin remains undetermined.
Second fatal incident in 24 hours
The attack followed the death of another Indonesian peacekeeper on Sunday, when a projectile of unknown origin exploded in Adchit Al Qusayr. Dujarric suggested the incident was likely caused by an explosive landing near the soldiers' position.
Unifil has launched investigations into both incidents. The victims of Monday's attack were identified as Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, while Chief Private Farizal Rhomadhon was named as the soldier killed on Sunday.
Israel denies involvement in Bani Hayyan explosion
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on Telegram rejecting claims of responsibility for the Bani Hayyan blast. A "comprehensive operational examination" concluded that no IDF troops were present in the area and no explosive devices were planted by Israeli forces, the IDF said.
Separately, the IDF reported that four of its soldiers died in combat in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with another severely wounded and a reservist moderately injured.
UN urges respect for peacekeepers amid escalating tensions
Dujarric emphasized that UN peacekeepers in Lebanon operate on behalf of the international community and must be protected. He called on Lebanon and Israel to use Unifil's dialogue mechanism, stressing that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.
"We extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of those brave peacekeepers who gave their lives in service of peace,"
Unifil statement
Background: Unifil's role and recent violence
Established by the UN Security Council in 1978, Unifil acts as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, patrolling the "Blue Line"-the de facto border-alongside the Lebanese army. Since its inception, 339 peacekeepers have died in the line of duty.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered after clashes over the war in Gaza, Israel has continued near-daily strikes on Hezbollah targets. Israel alleges that Hezbollah has violated the ceasefire by failing to disarm and withdraw from southern Lebanon, accusing Unifil and the Lebanese army of inadequate action.
The Lebanese health ministry reports that 1,268 people, including 124 children, have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire began.
