Parliament Urges TNI to Change Strategy After Soldiers Killed in Lebanon

Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), Dave Laksono, stated that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) needs to conduct a comprehensive evaluation after three soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon were killed at the end of March 2026. One of the evaluations should consider changing the operational strategy.

“Whether to gradually reduce the numbers or change the operations to remain within the base,” he said at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

He encouraged the Ministry of Defence and TNI headquarters to remap the tasks and operations of military personnel in Lebanon. Especially since he suspects the escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel remains volatile.

In addition, Dave asked the government to consider temporarily halting the peacekeeping operations. According to him, there are around 800 TNI soldiers involved in the UNIFIL mission whose safety must be protected.

“If it cannot be declared safe, perhaps the operations should be stopped first until the situation is truly conducive and the mission operations are redefined,” he said.

This Golkar Party politician also urged a special and in-depth investigation. From the cause of the attack, the crossing of peacekeeping personnel, to the mines suspected to be in the area of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) post.

“If it is indeed a public crossing and mines are planted, that means there is a war violation,” said Dave.

Previously, the Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, said the two soldiers were hit by an attack due to the increasing intensity of fighting in southern Lebanon. “The incident in southern Lebanon impacted TNI Task Force personnel who were carrying out escort duties to support UNIFIL operational activities,” said Rico in a written statement on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

He said the cause of the incident is still under further investigation. According to Rico, to date, the exact cause of the incident that led to the deaths of two TNI soldiers is being investigated by UNIFIL.

Rico said two other TNI soldiers also suffered serious injuries. Both soldiers have been intensively treated at a medical facility in Beirut, Lebanon.