Ministry of Defence: Two soldiers killed while escorting UNIFIL operation in Lebanon
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Defence Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) of the Ministry of Defence’s General Secretariat, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that two TNI soldiers fell in southern Lebanon while carrying out escort duties for UNIFIL forces on Monday (30/3).
“The incident in the southern Lebanon area impacted TNI Task Force personnel who were performing escort duties to support UNIFIL operational activities,” Rico said in an official press release received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
However, Rico did not explain in detail the cause of the two TNI personnel’s deaths. Reports circulated that the two personnel fell while escorting a convoy of forces intending to retrieve the body of another UNIFIL soldier.
ANTARA attempted to confirm this information with the Head of the TNI Headquarters Information Centre, Major General TNI Aulia Dwi Nasrullah. However, as of now, Aulia has not responded to the confirmation efforts.
“The incident occurred amid increasing combat intensity in the area, and to date, the exact cause of the event is still under investigation by UNIFIL according to applicable procedures,” Rico added.
“The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Defence and TNI continues to coordinate closely with UNIFIL headquarters to ensure the safety of all personnel and to guarantee the best handling for the victims,” Rico explained.
With these two casualties, the total number of TNI soldiers who have fallen in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon now stands at three.
Previously, the Head of TNI Headquarters Information Centre, Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, stated that the body of Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon, a TNI soldier who fell while carrying out the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, was in the process of administrative procedures for repatriation to Indonesia.
“The soldier who fell is currently laid to rest at the East Sector Headquarters (HQ) and is in the process of completing administrative repatriation to Indonesia with assistance from the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut,” Aulia said when confirmed by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday (30/3).
He fell due to an artillery attack that struck the Indonesian contingent’s location in the city of Adshit al-Qusyar in southern Lebanon on Sunday (29/3).
Aulia stated that the artillery attack occurred due to the increasing intensity of conflict in the area.
Not only Farizal became a victim; three other TNI soldiers, namely Private First Class Rico Pramudia, Private First Class Bayu Prakoso, and Private First Class Arif, also became casualties in the attack.
“Private First Class Rico Pramudia suffered severe injuries, while Private First Class Bayu Prakoso and Private First Class Arif Kurniawan suffered minor injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment,” Aulia explained.