Three TNI Personnel in Lebanon Injured Again, Sugiono: Under Investigation
Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that the cause of injuries to three Indonesian National Army (TNI) personnel following an explosion near El Adeisse in southern Lebanon is still under investigation. The three TNI soldiers, who are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), sustained injuries after an explosion hit a UN facility area on Friday evening, 3 April 2026.
This attack on the UNIFIL peacekeeping area marks the third incident in one week. The latest incident adds to Indonesia’s grief, following the loss of three personnel in Lebanon previously.
“Last night, I also received a report that three TNI soldiers were injured, and the cause is similar to the two previous incidents, which is still being investigated by UNIFIL,” Sugiono said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Saturday, 4 April 2026, quoted from a video statement by the Presidential Secretariat.
Sugiono explained that after the first incident, Indonesia, through its permanent representative in New York, requested the UN Security Council to hold an extraordinary meeting. The request was subsequently approved by France as the holder of the Lebanon issue.
“At that time, France, as the penholder for Lebanon matters in the Security Council, approved the holding of an extraordinary meeting, the essence of which was, first, we strongly condemn the attacks carried out against the peacekeepers, in this case UNIFIL,” Sugiono said.
In addition, Indonesia demanded a thorough investigation and security guarantees for peacekeeping forces. This is because forces like UNIFIL are tasked with peacekeeping missions, not combat operations.
“Things like this, well, if we say it shouldn’t happen, it shouldn’t happen, but the fact is it does. There must be a security guarantee for the peacekeeping soldiers because they are keeping the peace. They are peace-keeping, not peace-making,” said the Gerindra Party politician.
UNIFIL representatives reported that three peacekeepers were injured due to an explosion near El Adeisse in southern Lebanon on Friday, 3 April 2026. The three personnel are TNI soldiers serving in the global peacekeeping mission.
“We do not yet know the origin of the explosion,” said UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel in her statement through the UN information centre team in Indonesia on Saturday, 4 April 2026.
Two of the three TNI soldiers hit by the artillery attack sustained serious injuries. However, representatives from the UN information centre in Indonesia stated that both have received medical treatment at a civilian hospital and are now in stable condition.
Kandice Ardiel said the past week has been a difficult time for peacekeepers serving in the central area of UNIFIL’s operational region. She urged all parties to commit to ensuring the safety and security of the peacekeepers.
“Including by avoiding combat activities nearby that could endanger the peacekeepers,” she said.
As reported by Spacewar, Lebanon was drawn into the West Asian war on 2 March 2026, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for a US-Israel attack on Iran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nevertheless, Israel had attacked Lebanon thousands of times before 2 March, even after a ceasefire with Hezbollah was agreed in November 2024.
After 2 March, Israel responded with massive attacks across Lebanon and a ground invasion in the south of the country. Lebanese authorities reported that 1,368 people were killed, mostly civilians, in the month of war.
This escalation has impacted UNIFIL’s operational area along the Lebanon-Israel border, which has long been a buffer zone for the conflict. Indonesian soldiers joining UNIFIL have also become victims.
On 29 March 2026, an explosion in Lebanon caused the death of Private Farizal Rhomadhon. Three other TNI soldiers were injured: Private Rico Pramudia, Private Bayu Prakoso, and Private Arif Kurniawan.
The day after, another explosion in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of two TNI soldiers. The two victims were Captain Inf Zulmi Aditya Iskandar and Sergeant Major Muhammad Nur Ichwan. Two other Indonesian military personnel were also injured: Lieutenant Inf Sulthan Wirdean Maulana and Private Deni Rianto.