Palace Yet to Decide on Withdrawal of Troops from Lebanon
The government is faced with a policy dilemma and there is no truly comfortable option.
The government is faced with a policy dilemma and there is no truly comfortable option.
The government has not yet adopted an official position regarding the results of the United Nations (UN) investigation into the death of a TNI soldier in the peacekeeping mission as part of UNIFIL in Lebanon, including the option of withdrawing troops.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that the official report has not yet been received by the government.
“Not yet, we haven’t received the report, we’re focusing (on today’s activities),” he said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4).
Nevertheless, the government assures that the evaluation of sending peacekeeping troops continues. This process is carried out through cross-ministerial coordination, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesia’s representatives at the UN.
According to Prasetyo, the diplomatic steps conveyed by the Foreign Minister are part of a comprehensive evaluation of Indonesia’s involvement in international peacekeeping missions.
“Certainly. That’s why what Mr Foreign Minister conveyed is also part of the evaluation process. What we asked our representatives at the UN to convey is also part of the evaluation,” Prasetyo explained.
Regarding the withdrawal of troops from the conflict area, the government has not made a decision. Prasetyo emphasised that all options remain open, but will be determined after the investigation results are received and comprehensively reviewed.
“Well, we’ll see the results first,” he concluded.
Commission I of the DPR RI urges the government to take firm diplomatic steps following the fall of TNI soldiers in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The incident involving an Israeli tank according to the UN investigation.
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli air force launched an airstrike in the coastal area in central Sidon.
The UN confirmed that the death of Indonesian UNIFIL personnel on 29 March was caused by gunfire from an Israeli Merkava tank, while the second incident was triggered by an IED.
The attack on peacekeeping forces in Lebanon that killed a TNI soldier is seen as a critical point for Indonesia to review its involvement.
Israeli attacks hit Lebanon again, killing at least 15 people on Sunday (5/4) local time.