SBY Urges UN to Halt UNIFIL Mission After Three TNI Soldiers Fall: Lebanon Now a War Zone

Sixth President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has urged the United Nations (UN) to take firm steps following the sorrow over the deaths of three TNI soldiers in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. SBY expressed deep grief over the loss of the three TNI soldiers serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. He called on the UN to halt or relocate the peacekeeping troops’ assignment in the conflict area. “When I joined in paying respects to the bodies of Major Inf (Posthumous) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Sgt Maj (Posthumous) Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Cpl (Posthumous) Farizal Rhomadon, my heart was deeply moved,” SBY stated via a post on his personal X account on Sunday (5/4). He emphasised that the TNI soldiers had sacrificed their lives and bodies for the nation, while also conveying profound condolences to the bereaved families. SBY also voiced support for President Prabowo Subianto’s push for the UN to conduct a serious investigation into the incident. “I know that investigations in highly dynamic combat situations are often not easy. However, they can still be carried out with the hope that the results will be reasonable and credible (acceptable, believable narrative),” SBY said. Referring to his experience serving with the UN in Bosnia from 1995-1996, SBY explained that peacekeeping forces are generally not heavily armed and lack a combat mandate as they operate under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter. In his view, Indonesia’s contingent should have been positioned around the Blue Line, which is not a war zone. However, he assessed that the on-ground conditions have now changed. “In reality, what was once around the ‘Blue Line’ has now become a ‘war zone’, where battles between Israel and Hezbollah rage daily. It is even reported that Israeli forces have advanced 7 km from the ‘Blue Line’,” he revealed. Furthermore, SBY deemed the situation extremely dangerous because peacekeeping personnel could become victims at any time. Therefore, he urged the UN to make a firm decision promptly. “With this reasoning, the UN in New York should immediately make a decisive decision and steps to halt the UNIFIL assignment or relocate them away from the still-burning battlefield,” he asserted. In addition, SBY encouraged the UN Security Council to promptly issue a clear resolution without double standards. He reminded of the importance of justice for the soldiers who became victims. “The UN must not show favouritism or apply double standards. Just as President Prabowo has done, personally, I also feel a moral obligation to fight for justice for the TNI soldiers who became victims in Lebanon,” he stated. Further, SBY recalled his role as president when he proposed sending one TNI battalion to Lebanon since November 2006. Up to 2026, Indonesia’s contingent has served in the mission 19 times. In closing his statement, SBY offered an encouraging message to the soldiers of Kontingen Garuda XXIII-S who are still on duty. “Do your best and take good care of yourselves. Your loving families are waiting for your return to the homeland,” SBY concluded.