Remains of Three TNI Soldiers to Arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Tomorrow
Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the repatriation plan for the three TNI soldiers who fell in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has been coordinated and is proceeding as scheduled.
He said the remains will depart from Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday, 3 April 2026, and arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday, 4 April 2026. “It is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Saturday, 4 April 2026 afternoon,” he said when contacted on Friday, 3 April 2026.
Afterwards, Rico stated that a military laying-in-state ceremony will be conducted at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta. “Before being transported to their respective regions for military burial,” he added.
Rico said the Ministry of Defence will provide further updates regarding the repatriation process. “We will continue to provide further developments if there are any adjustments on the ground,” he said.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) previously held a tribute ceremony for the three TNI soldiers who fell in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The ceremony took place on Thursday, 2 April 2026 local time.
“A farewell and tribute ceremony for the remains of those three Indonesian peacekeepers was held at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon,” stated the official caption from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), Friday, 3 April 2026.
The ceremony was led directly by the UNIFIL Force Commander as a final form of respect for their service and dedication in maintaining world peace. The Indonesian government continues to coordinate with the United Nations (UN) to ensure the repatriation process can proceed quickly, safely, and smoothly.
“The repatriation of the remains is expected to be carried out in the first week of April 2026,” said Kemlu.
The repatriation or return of the remains requires at least 17 hours. However, currently, the intensity of armed contacts in various points in the area is high, including due to increased Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. “Not only causing movement restrictions, but also making every step a gamble for safety,” wrote Kemlu.
Previously, three TNI soldiers were killed and five others injured in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon on 29–30 March 2026. The first incident occurred in the Adchit al-Qusayr area when a projectile explosion hit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon troops’ area, killing one soldier.
A day later, another explosion occurred near Bani Hayyan and hit a patrol vehicle, killing two TNI soldiers. This series of attacks underscores the increasing risks faced by Indonesian peacekeeping forces in the conflict area.