PBNU Chairman Calls for Absent Prayer for Fallen TNI Soldiers in Lebanon

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, commonly known as Gus Yahya, has conveyed deep condolences over the deaths of three TNI soldiers who were carrying out a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Gus Yahya stated that the sacrifice of these three soldiers represents a tangible act of service to the nation and the constitutional mandate, particularly in maintaining world order as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution. “The three fallen soldiers are national heroes because they were carrying out the mandate of the 1945 Constitution to help maintain world order,” said Gus Yahya in Jakarta on Monday (6/4/2026). As a form of respect and prayer for the fallen soldiers, Gus Yahya has called on all Nahdlatul Ulama (Nahdliyin) members and those in Islamic boarding schools to perform absent prayers. “We urge NU members and students in boarding schools to perform absent prayers for the martyrs,” he said. In his statement, Gus Yahya also condemned Israel’s military actions, which he deems to have attacked sovereign territory and endangered world peacekeeping forces. “We condemn the attacks on sovereign states and UNIFIL forces that have led to the spread of violence,” said Gus Yahya. The Commander of the TNI Peacekeeping Mission Centre (PMPP), Major General TNI Iwan Bambang Setiawan, stated that the Indonesian government is ready to protect TNI soldiers serving in Lebanon. However, Iwan did not elaborate on the extent of that protection.