Indonesia to Send 780 TNI Soldiers to UN Mission in Lebanon in May

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that Indonesia will send 780 personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 22 May 2026. “The date is 22 (May 2026). (A total of) 780 personnel (TNI soldiers departing for UNIFIL),” said Sugiono, who was met after a joint press statement between Indonesia and Singapore in Jakarta on Tuesday. Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), Yvonne Mewengkang, stated that the deployment of TNI troops to UNIFIL represents the Republic of Indonesia’s commitment to maintaining world peace. Yvonne also expressed that the deaths of three Indonesian UNIFIL soldiers at the end of March 2026 is a matter of great regret. “But our commitment to peace and in accordance with our constitutional mandate must of course continue,” she added. Nevertheless, Yvonne emphasised that the safety and security of the peacekeeping troops is non-negotiable. She stated that the safety of troops in the field must be ensured to prevent similar incidents from recurring, one of which is through more mature personnel readiness. Yvonne also conveyed that Indonesia continues to urge the UN to conduct a thorough, comprehensive, and transparent investigation. “The preliminary investigation is complete; the process is still ongoing; we respect that, but we want to ensure that there will be results later. Indonesia’s Permanent Representative in New York is also continuing close communication with the UN,” said Yvonne. It is known that the deployment of 780 Indonesian personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the end of May 2026 is a rotation aimed at replacing the current Indonesian contingent in UNIFIL.