Indonesia to repatriate fallen UN peacekeepers from Lebanon in two days
Defense Ministry Information Bureau chief Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait said authorities are targeting a Friday departure but may shift to Saturday depending on flight availability.
He said the timing remains uncertain because commercial and military flight options out of Lebanon are currently very limited amid ongoing hostilities in the region.
Sirait added the remains are being securely kept at Saida Hospital in Lebanon where funeral preparations are underway before transportation back to Indonesia.
Regarding the Israeli attack in southern Lebanon that killed three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL in late March 2026, Indonesia’s UN envoy Umar Hadi has called for a swift, thorough, and transparent United Nations investigation.
Jakarta also urged the UN Security Council to closely monitor the probe and act decisively on its findings while demanding legal accountability for perpetrators, and rejecting any immunity for attacks targeting peacekeepers.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Hadi strongly condemned the attacks on UNIFIL troops that occurred on March 29 and March 30.
Indonesia also called on all parties to halt hostilities and comply with international law to ensure the safety of UN personnel and assets.
Hadi said the safety of peacekeepers must remain a top priority through emergency measures to strengthen protections amid escalating conflict on the ground.
Such measures include reviewing security protocols and activating evacuation plans in line with rapidly evolving conditions in southern Lebanon.
The Security Council must reaffirm core principles ensuring the protection of peacekeepers and take concrete steps to prevent further attacks against UN personnel.
Indonesia reiterated its commitment to global peace and urged the Council to respond firmly to uphold the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
He noted that Indonesia and France requested the Security Council meeting, underscoring Jakarta’s commitment to UN peacekeeping missions since 1957.
Hadi expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the three Indonesian soldiers and acknowledged condolences and solidarity shown by Council members and the wider international community.
He paid tribute to Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Private First Class Fahrizal Rhomadhon, who were killed on duty.
Rhomadhon died at a UNIFIL post in Adchit Al Qusayr, while Iskandar and Ichwan were killed in an attack on a logistics convoy in Bani Hayyan.
Indonesia said the attack was unacceptable and represented a major loss for the country, the United Nations, and the international community.
In addition to the fatalities, five other personnel were injured, including Captain Sultan Wirdean Maulana, Corporal Rico Pramudia, Corporal Arif Kurniawan, Corporal Bayu Prakoso, and cadet Deni Rianto.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution