Two Indonesian UN Troops Killed by Explosion in Lebanon

Dk UNIFIL troops from Indonesia. (Wikimedia Commons/Kontingen Garuda)

JAKARTA - Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, when an "explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle," said the UN agency tasked with maintaining security in the region.

A third peacekeeper suffered "severe" injuries in the blast, and a fourth peacekeeper was wounded, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement, quoted by the BBC (31/3).

Meanwhile, The New York Times quoted a UN report saying "Two UN peacekeepers traveling in a convoy were killed, when the convoy was hit by an explosion of unknown origin in southern Lebanon on Monday, and several other peacekeepers were injured."

"This is the second fatal incident in the last 24 hours," Unifil noted. Previously, a peacekeeper - who is also an Indonesian citizen - was killed on Sunday night when a projectile, also of unknown origin, exploded in Adchit Al Qusayr in southern Lebanon.

"We extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the brave peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives for peace," UNIFIL wrote of Monday's incident.

UNIFIL said that under international law, "all actors" have an obligation to ensure the "safety and security" of UN personnel.

"The deliberate attack" on the peacekeepers was a "grave violation" of international humanitarian law, UNIFIL said.

"The human cost of this conflict is too high. Violence, as we have said before, must end," he added.

UNIFIL said it had launched an investigation to determine what happened in both incidents.

The sad news came shortly after the Israeli military announced it would step up ground and air attacks on the Lebanese armed group, Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia as well as a political party, has fired rockets into Israel in response to ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

UNIFIL was established by the UN Security Council in 1978, and has since served as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon.

Peacekeepers patrolling the "Blue Line" - the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel - work alongside the Lebanese army.

Around 339 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission was established.

Although a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed in November 2024, after violence escalated between the two over the Gaza war, Israel has carried out almost daily strikes against Hezbollah targets.

Israel accuses the armed group of not complying with the terms of the ceasefire - which requires Hezbollah to disarm and leave its positions in the south - and accuses Unifil and the Lebanese army of not doing enough to remove their militants from the area.

Israel also said its latest operation in southern Lebanon was intended to ensure the safety of people in the north.

Since the ceasefire began, 1,238 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, including 124 children.