UNIFIL Convoy Attacked, Two More TNI Personnel Killed in Lebanon
An explosion struck a UNIFIL logistic convoy, destroying the vehicle they were travelling in amid rising regional conflict. In addition to the two fatalities, reported to be from Indonesia, two other personnel were injured.
The incident occurred near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon, just one day after another Indonesian “blue helmet” was killed when a projectile hit the mission base in Ett Taibe and exploded. A fellow victim with critical injuries has been evacuated to Beirut and is still receiving hospital treatment.
“This is the second fatal incident in the last 24 hours. We reiterate that no one should have to die in serving the cause of peace,” UNIFIL stated.
The mission extended condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured. UNIFIL also emphasised that attacks on peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701, and “may amount to a war crime”.
“The human cost of this conflict is too high. Violence, as we have said before, must stop,” the UNIFIL statement read.
Meanwhile, the Head of UN Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
“We strongly condemn this unacceptable incident. Peacekeepers must never be targeted,” Lacroix told reporters during a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
“We also remain deeply concerned about a number of incidents of aggressive behaviour towards UNIFIL peacekeepers in recent days,” he added.
Lacroix affirmed that UN peacekeeping forces remain in the field and continue to carry out the Security Council’s mandate amid highly dangerous conditions.
Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise more than a month after the United States and Israel bombarded Iran, which was subsequently retaliated against with attacks by Iran on several countries in the region.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had previously warned that the crisis risks “triggering an uncontrollable chain of events in the world’s most volatile region”.
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said that since 2 March, more than 1,200 people in Lebanon have been killed in the escalation of hostilities between Israel and the Hezbollah group.
UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said the investigation into the deadly incident is ongoing and will take time.
“For now, we do not have a clear picture of what actually happened, but that is what the investigation will seek to establish,” she said.
“Once the investigation is complete, as per our usual practice, we will share it with the parties. And depending on the results, if we identify the responsible party, we will inform them and formally lodge a protest.”