JAKARTA - The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that it will investigate the incident that killed three Indonesian soldiers who were part of the mission in southern Lebanon.
Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday, after an explosion from an unknown source destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that two other soldiers were injured in the blast, quoted from Al Arabiya (31/3).
Earlier, another Indonesian soldier was killed on Sunday night to Monday morning, when a projectile exploded near one of the troops' positions in Adchit al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon. Another peacekeeper was critically wounded at the time.
"These are two separate incidents and we are investigating them as two separate incidents," said UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the incident, stressing that attacks on peacekeepers were unjustified.
"We strongly condemn this unacceptable incident, peacekeepers should not be targeted," Lacroix told reporters at a briefing on Monday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the attack on peacekeepers was a grave violation of international humanitarian law and could be considered a war crime.
As previously reported, an Indonesian peacekeeper, Praka Farizal Rhomadhon, was killed on Sunday night when a projectile, also of unknown origin, exploded in Adchit Al Qusayr in southern Lebanon.
In addition, three other TNI soldiers, Praka Rico Pramudia, Praka Bayu Prakoso and Praka Arif Kurniawan, were also injured in the incident and are currently undergoing medical treatment.
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.
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