Beirut, Lebanon. Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, Unifil said, after a weekend in which Lebanese journalists and medics were killed in Israeli strikes.
Blast near Bani Hayyan
Unifil said two peacekeepers were killed on Monday after an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast.
Projectile incident near Adchit al-Qusayr
Unifil said another Indonesian soldier was killed overnight Sunday into Monday when a projectile exploded by one of the group’s positions near the southern Lebanese village of Adchit al-Qusayr. Another peacekeeper was critically injured.
Investigation and conflict context
Unifil spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel said the incidents were separate and were being investigated as two separate incidents. The death on Sunday was the first among the UN peacekeeping force in the new war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which erupted on March 2.
Indonesia and UN reactions
Indonesia’s foreign ministry said on Monday the deceased peacekeeper was one of its citizens and that three others were injured by “indirect artillery fire.” Indonesia condemned the incident, said any harm to peacekeepers is unacceptable, and reiterated its condemnation “of Israel’s attacks in southern Lebanon.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. Unifil chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters in a briefing on Monday: “We strongly condemn these unacceptable incidents – peacekeepers must never be a target.”
Israeli military response
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents.
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