Three Soldiers Fall in Lebanon, KSAD: We Have Lost the Nation's Finest Sons
The Indonesian Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, has conveyed condolences over the soldiers who fell and were injured during the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. In particular, for the fallen soldiers, Maruli described them as the nation’s finest sons.
“But for these three individuals, we are deeply saddened. They are our very best sons, whom we carefully selected for the peacekeeping assignment,” Maruli stated after the farewell ceremony for the three fallen TNI soldiers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta) on Saturday (4/4).
Maruli noted that the soldiers on duty follow standards or standard operating procedures (SOP) in every situation. He urged the families of the soldiers serving in Lebanon not to worry, as the TNI executing the mission has safety SOPs.
“Actually, that’s already part of the SOP in the assignment. In certain conditions, they have instructions to enter bunkers and so forth,” he said.
“Well, no need to worry. Actually, they know what to do. But whatever happens, there are always risks amid such events. The important thing is to pray, hopefully everything goes well,” he added.
Previously, President Prabowo released the remains of the three soldiers who fell in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The laying to rest ceremony for the three remains took place in the VIP Lounge of Terminal 3 at Soetta Airport on Saturday (4/4).
The families’ tears broke as the coffins were aligned during the laying to rest procession. The families were also seen embracing the TNI soldiers’ coffins.
The family members were then calmed by the on-duty soldiers. They then sat in front of each respective family member’s coffin.
President Prabowo Subianto was seen conversing and shaking hands with the TNI soldiers’ families. Prabowo also paid respects to each of the fallen soldiers.
The three fallen soldiers are Captain Inf Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Staff Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ikhwan, and Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon.
After the laying to rest, the three remains were flown to their respective locations. Here are the burial sites for the three TNI soldiers who fell in Lebanon:
Captain Inf (Posthumous) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar at TMP Cikutra, Bandung
Staff Sergeant (Posthumous) Muhammad Nur Ikhwan at TMP Giri Dharmolyo II, Magelang
Lance Corporal (Posthumous) Farizal Rhomadhon at TMP Giripeni, Kulon Progo