Indonesian Navy Exercises With UNIFIL Soldiers In Lebanon, Anticipates The Evacuation Of Indonesian Citizens In The Sea Line

Indonesian Navy Soldiers at KRI Diponegoro-365 practice contingency at the Port of Beirut pier, Lebanon, Tuesday (10/9/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Navy (AL) dwarf KRI Diponegoro-365 who is currently on duty with the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force in Lebanon has completed a contingency plan exercise.

The exercise is to anticipate emergency situations that may occur due to war escalation and armed conflict, especially those requiring the evacuation of TNI and Indonesian citizens in Lebanon using sea routes.

Based on a press release from the Information Service of the Indonesian Navy's Fleet Command II, Sunday, September 15, the Commander of the MTF TNI Task Force of the Garuda XXVIII-O/UNIFIL Marine Lt. Col. (P) Wiratyo Haprabu explained that the exercise was held at the Port of Beirut pier.

As for the situation anticipated in the exercise, including the withdrawal of troops and the evacuation of the TNI Task Force troops in Lebanon by sea because land routes and air routes are not safe.

Some of the training materials that were attended by the KRI Diponegoro-365 comedians in Lebanon also included base defense, underwater anti-sabotage, embarcations, and protection of troops or force protection.

Wirastyo also said that the exercise was a follow-up to the vision of the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, namely the TNI 'PRIMA', one of which made TNI soldiers remain professional in dealing with complex and dynamic situations, especially in operational areas in Lebanon.

Since the war broke out in Palestine and Israel on October 7, 2023, tensions have spread from Israel-Lebanon borders, including the Blue Line demarcation line separating Israeli and Lebanese territory.

In Lebanon, currently there are at least 200 more Indonesian citizens and more than 1,000 TNI soldiers who serve with the UN Peace Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

KRI Diponegoro, who is a member of the TNI MTF Task Force Garuda XXVIII/O UNIFIL contingent, has served with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon since early 2024. The Garuda Contingent Task Force MTF UNIFIL is one of the tasks units in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which consists entirely of Indonesian Navy soldiers.

The MTF Task Force in Lebanon is tasked with maintaining peace along the Lebanese and Israeli borders, along with other task forces, including the TNI Mechanical Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), the Headquarters/Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHQSU) Support Task Force, the Indo Force Protection Company (FPC) Task Force, the Civil-Military Coordination Task Force / Civilian Military Coordination (CIMIC) TNI, the Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU) Task Force, and the Level 2 Hospital Task Force.

Most TNI soldiers who are members of UNIFIL operate on land, while the MTF Task Force carries out its duties at sea.

Several tasks carried out by soldiers from the UNIFIL MTF Task Force, including patrolling the waters, along the border, preventing the illegal entry of weapons, and holding training for Lebanese Navy soldiers.