Three TNI Soldiers Killed, Israel Denies Attacking UN Forces in Lebanon

JAKARTA - The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) denied involvement in an attack on a United Nations peacekeeper in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that killed three TNI soldiers.

"In the last 24 hours, the IDF reviewed the incident on Monday (30/3), in which UNIFIL forces were reportedly injured due to an explosion in the Bani Hayyan area, southern Lebanon," the IDF said on Telegram as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 1.

They claimed they did not plant explosives and "there were no our troops at the location."

UNIFIL earlier reported that an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed on Sunday after a projectile hit one of its posts.

On Monday, UNIFIL also reported that two other Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in an attack on their patrol vehicle in the Bani Hayyan area.

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York at the request of Indonesia and France.

"We are saying clearly and this needs to be repeated many times, peacekeepers should not be targeted," said the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix during the meeting.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when the group resumed rocket attacks on Israeli territory amid the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

In response, Israel launched a major offensive into Lebanon, including the southern region, the Beqaa Valley, and the outskirts of Beirut.

On March 16, the Israeli military announced the launch of a ground operation in southern Lebanon.