SBY Urges UN to Halt UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon

Sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has requested that the United Nations Security Council halt the deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping troops in Lebanon. The statement was made via his X account, @SBYudhoyono, on Sunday, 5 April 2026.

In the post, the former president, often referred to as SBY, first expressed condolences for the deaths of Praka Farizal Rhomadhon, Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, and Muhammad Nur Ichwan, three TNI soldiers serving as peacekeepers in Lebanon.

SBY recounted that his heart trembled upon witnessing the tears of the soldiers’ families. He had accompanied President Prabowo Subianto in paying final respects to the three deceased at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday, 4 April 2026.

SBY said he could feel the profound grief experienced by the bereaved families. “I know the meaning of the tears falling on their cheeks,” SBY wrote.

For this reason, SBY supports the government’s demand for the UN to conduct an investigation. However, SBY also added another suggestion: requesting that the UN halt the UNIFIL deployment to Lebanon or relocate it to a safer area.

He explained that the task of UN peacekeeping units, such as Contingent Garuda XXIII/S, is to maintain peace or peacekeeping, not peacemaking. Peacekeeping forces are not heavily armed and are not mandated to carry out combat tasks. SBY noted that this is regulated under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter.

Based on those regulations, SBY continued, peacekeepers are tasked with maintaining peace along the blue line or the border area separating Israeli and Lebanese territory. This area was originally a blue zone and not a combat or war zone.

However, SBY assesses that in reality, the blue line is no longer safe. “Now, the fact is that what was once around the ‘blue line’ is now in a ‘war zone’, where battles between Israel and Hezbollah rage daily. It is even reported that Israeli forces have advanced 7 kilometres from the ‘blue line’,” SBY stated.

SBY considers this situation extremely dangerous for peacekeeping forces, including TNI soldiers. Because at any moment, they could become victims of the ongoing battles.

“With this argumentation, the UN in New York should immediately take a firm decision and steps to halt the UNIFIL deployment and or relocate their position outside the current burning battlefield,” he said.

In addition, SBY urged the UN to convene a session promptly and issue a firm and clear resolution. According to SBY, like Prabowo, he feels a moral obligation to advocate for justice and security for TNI soldiers in Lebanon.

The reason is that the involvement of TNI soldiers in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon began during his presidency in 2006.

SBY explained that at that time, the war between Israel and Lebanon was causing continuous casualties. Therefore, as soon as the UN agreed to deploy peacekeeping forces, Indonesia took the initiative to propose sending one battalion to strengthen the mission.

SBY even directly procured several main weapon system equipment (alutsista) from France to equip the Indonesian contingent.

SBY said the first Indonesian contingent, Garuda XXIII/A, departed for Lebanon in November 2006. Up to 2026, there have been 19 Indonesian contingents serving in Lebanon, with an average deployment period of one year. SBY concluded his statement by offering encouragement to the soldiers currently serving in Lebanon.

“As a senior and elder in the TNI, I convey to the soldiers of Contingent Garuda XXIII/S still in Lebanon to remain spirited in carrying out their noble duties. Do your best and take good care of yourselves. Your loving families await your return to the homeland,” he said.