KRI SIM-367 Brings 120 UNIFIL TNI AL Soldiers Departing For Lebanon, KSAL Reminds Escalation Is Still Happening

Indonesian Navy Soldiers from the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the TNI Garuda XXVIII-P or UNIFIL contingent from above SIM-367 to Lebanon from Priok, Jakarta, Thursday 19 December 2024. (ANTARA PHOTO-Fauzan)

JAKARTA - The warship of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Sultan Iskandar Muda-367 carrying 120 Indonesian Navy soldiers who are members of the TNI Maritime Task Force (MTF) Garuda XXVIII-P UNIFIL contingent sailed to their place of duty in Beirut, Lebanon.

KRI membawa pasukan sementara PBB di Lebanon atau UNIFIL ini berangkat dari Dermaga Kolinlamil, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, pada Kamis 19 Desember.

On the heli deck of KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali reminded that the escalation of armed conflict is currently still happening in Lebanon.

"Develop effective active communication in diplomacy. Collect as much information as possible, and update data as often as possible. Remember, the mission area in Lebanon is a volatile conflict area," said Admiral Ali to all Indonesian Navy soldiers members of the TNI MTF Task Force, confiscated by Antara.

Therefore, the KSAL advised UNIFIL TNI soldiers led by Marine Lt. Col. (P) Anugerah Annarullah to carry out early detection of all potential threats that may occur during their duties.

On the same occasion, KSAL also reminded all soldiers of their task force to be the nation's ambassadors so that they must always maintain their self-respect, respect local customs, and quickly adapt to the community.

"Strengthen ethics and avoid friction in any form. Prioritize security and safety for both personnel and materials by not neglecting the main tasks," said KSAL in his mandate during the briefing event.

On the heli deck, the briefing ceremony from KSAL was also attended by a number of main TNI and Indonesian Navy officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral TNI Erwin S. Aldedharma, Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command Vice Admiral TNI Denih Hendrata, Commander of Pushidrosal Vice Admiral TNI Budi Purwanto, Commander of the TNI's Center for Peace Maintenance Mission (PMPP) Major General TNI Taufik Budi Santoso, Commander of the Indonesian Navy Aviation Center Rear Admiral TNI Sisyani Jaffar, and Commander of the Kolinlamil Rear Admiral TNI Hudiarto Krisno Utomo.

Meanwhile in the dock area, a number of families from the Task Force members waited for KRI SIM-367 to leave Jakarta. Some of the Task Force members, before the briefing took place, also had time to meet their families to take pictures together, and hug before being separated for about a year.

In the dock area, before the briefing event, there were also members of the Task Force who took the time to propose to their girlfriends. The two exchanged rings and made a promise to continue together until they finally reunited next year.

The atmosphere of emotion radiated from the look on the faces of family members who kept waving at KRI SIM-367 until finally the ship was no longer visible from the dock.

From Jakarta, KRI SIM-367 sailed to Batam, then left Indonesian waters to Colombo (Sri Lanka), Salalah (Oman), then entered the Suez Canal, Port Said (Egypt), and finally arrived in Beirut, Lebanon.

In Beirut, the TNI MTF Task Force, Konga XXVIII-P UNIFIL, will continue the task of the MTF TNI Task Force, Konga XXVIII-O UNIFIL, whose term of duty ends in early January 2025. Each batch of MTF Task Forces sent by Indonesia to Lebanon will serve for a year.

Maritime Task Force (MTF) is one of the units under the control of the United Nations Peace Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In addition to MTF, the TNI also sent its troops to join other UNIFIL units which included the Mechanical Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), the Headquarters/Force Headquarters Support Unit 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 Task Force Level 2 Hospital.

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

Indonesia is currently still the country that sends the most soldiers to carry out peace missions with UNIFIL in Lebanon, which is 1,230 soldiers.