Indonesia is preparing for the repatriation of three soldiers who were killed while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Defense Ministry aims for their departure on Friday or Saturday, though scheduling remains dependent on the limited flight availability from the conflict-affected region.
Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the Defense Ministry’s Information Bureau, stated that the exact timing is uncertain due to the scarcity of commercial and military flight options amidst ongoing hostilities in the area. The remains are currently being held at Saida Hospital in Lebanon, where funeral preparations are underway ahead of their journey back to Indonesia.
The three peacekeepers died in late March 2026 following an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon. In response, Indonesia’s UN envoy, Umar Hadi, called for a prompt, comprehensive, and transparent investigation by the United Nations.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Ambassador Hadi strongly condemned the attacks on UNIFIL troops that occurred on March 29 and March 30. Jakarta urged the Security Council to closely monitor the investigation, act decisively on its findings, and demand legal accountability for those responsible, rejecting any immunity for attacks targeting peacekeepers.
Indonesia also appealed to all parties to cease hostilities and adhere to international law to safeguard UN personnel and assets. Ambassador Hadi emphasized that the safety of peacekeepers must be a primary concern, necessitating emergency measures such as reviewing security protocols and activating evacuation plans in response to the rapidly changing conditions in southern Lebanon.
The Security Council, he added, must reaffirm the core principles ensuring the protection of peacekeepers and implement concrete steps to prevent further attacks against UN personnel. Indonesia reiterated its long-standing commitment to global peace and UN peacekeeping missions, a commitment maintained since 1957.
Ambassador Hadi expressed profound sorrow over the deaths of Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Private First Class Fahrizal Rhomadhon. Private First Class Rhomadhon died at a UNIFIL post in Adchit Al Qusayr, while Captain Iskandar and First Sergeant Ichwan were killed during an attack on a logistics convoy in Bani Hayyan. Five other personnel were injured in the incidents.
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