UN peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in separate attacks in Lebanon, highlighting risks to international forces amid Israel-Hezbollah conflicts.
Two Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed on Monday when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL announced.
A third peacekeeper was severely injured and a fourth was hurt in the same incident, marking the second fatal attack in 24 hours. On Sunday, another Indonesian peacekeeper died when a projectile exploded in the area of Adchit Al Qusayr.
UNIFIL's Response and Investigations
UNIFIL stated it has initiated investigations into both incidents to determine the causes. The force emphasized that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers violate international humanitarian law and called for the safety of UN personnel to be ensured by all parties.
The deaths occurred shortly after Israel announced plans to intensify ground and air operations against Hezbollah. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been firing rockets into Israel in response to ongoing strikes.
UNIFIL, established in 1978 by the UN Security Council, patrols the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel, in collaboration with the Lebanese army. Since its inception, 339 peacekeepers have been killed in the line of duty.
Despite a ceasefire in November 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah, violence persists, with Israel conducting strikes on Hezbollah targets. Israel claims Hezbollah has not complied with ceasefire terms, including disarming and withdrawing from southern positions.
Earlier this month, four Ghanaian UNIFIL soldiers were injured in an attack on their base. The Ghanaian Foreign Minister described it as an assault on UN principles, though no party was named as responsible in the reports.
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