Government Assures No Withdrawal of TNI Troops from UNIFIL
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that there are no plans to withdraw Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) troops from the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The government had previously been asked to evaluate its involvement in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) following the incident in which three TNI soldiers were killed during the mission.
Although there are no plans to withdraw troops, Teddy said the government continues to evaluate the situation in Lebanon. “There is nothing regarding that (withdrawing troops). Evaluations continue, both internal and external,” Teddy said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday night, 10 April 2026.
According to Teddy, Indonesia is committed to deploying TNI troops abroad in missions to maintain world peace. That stance, he said, has been firmly stated by TNI Chief General Agus Subiyanto and Foreign Minister Sugiono.
“I think the TNI Chief and the Foreign Minister are very firm regarding all our soldiers who are abroad and at home,” he said.
Teddy conveyed that the deployment of TNI troops to UNIFIL is in accordance with the constitutional mandate as stated in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution. “So, I think it has been very firmly conveyed that in accordance with the fourth paragraph of the opening of the law: to regulate world order. So, we are sending troops there to maintain peace and we are firm on the existing evaluations,” Teddy said.
The Foreign Ministry previously urged the UN and Lebanese authorities to ensure that the investigation into the deaths of the three TNI soldiers involved in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission is conducted transparently and thoroughly. The government also demanded that those responsible be brought to trial immediately.
“Foreign Minister Sugiono has directly communicated with the Lebanese Foreign Minister and the UN Secretary-General on 30 March 2026 to ensure that the investigation process is carried out promptly, transparently, and thoroughly, as well as providing full protection for the security and safety of UNIFIL personnel,” said Acting Director for International Security and Peace of the Foreign Ministry, Veronica Vicka Ancilla Rompis, during a press conference at the Foreign Ministry office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
The three fallen TNI soldiers were Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon, Captain Infantry Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, and Sergeant Major Muhammad Nur Ichwan. All three were killed due to an artillery attack launched by Israel in the UNIFIL headquarters area on 29 and 30 March 2026.
UNIFIL held a tribute ceremony on 2 April 2026 local time. The bodies were then laid in state at the VIP Room of Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday night, 4 April 2026.