Malaysia Halts Operations, TNI Deploys 756 New Troops to Lebanon
The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) headquarters is dispatching 756 new troops to Lebanon as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. These hundreds of personnel will join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by the end of May 2026.
The deployment was explained by the Commander of the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre (PMPP), Major General Iwan Bambang Setiawan.
He stated that Indonesia makes independent decisions regarding its involvement in UN peacekeeping missions.
“If Malaysia has its own calculations, we leave that to the Malaysian government,” he said while conveying condolences at the home of one of the fallen soldiers in the Lebanon mission, Captain Infantry Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, in Cimahi, West Java, on Wednesday (1/4).
In accordance with the schedule set by UN Headquarters on 22 May 2026, he added, Indonesia will continue to participate in global peacekeeping efforts.
This troop rotation is being carried out because the current contingent in Lebanon has already served for one year.
“The assignment period is one year in the mission area,” said Iwan.
The TNI lost personnel who fell in the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon in March 2026.
The TNI soldiers who died in Lebanon are Chief Soldier Farizal Rhomadhon, Sergeant First Class Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Captain (Inf) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar.
Fahrizal died due to an indirect artillery attack near Adchit Al Qusayr, southern Lebanon, on Sunday (29/3). Meanwhile, Nur Ichwan and Zulmi died due to a vehicle explosion near Bani Haiyyan on Monday (30/3).
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka expressed condolences over the three TNI soldiers who fell in southern Lebanon while carrying out the UN peacekeeping mission with UNIFIL.
A member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), TB Hasanuddin, urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) to actively push the UN Security Council to conduct an investigation regarding the deaths of the three TNI soldiers in Lebanon.
An emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday (31/3) was held at the urging of Indonesia and France in response to the escalation of conflict in Lebanon.
Malaysia’s Defence Minister assured that all personnel of MALBATT 850-13 are safe in Lebanon. Security measures have been tightened, and patrols temporarily halted due to the emergency situation.
Three TNI soldiers were reported killed in separate incidents in the UNIFIL operational area in southern Lebanon.
MER-C Indonesia expressed condolences over the deaths of the three TNI personnel who were carrying out duties as peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. The three soldiers fell at the UNIFIL headquarters.