United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon vehicles patrol in Wazzani village, southern Lebanon, in September 2024. On Monday, U.N. officials announced that a UNIFIL peacekeeper from Indonesia was killed Sunday night when a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon. File Photo by EPA-EFE
March 30 (UPI) — A United Nations peacekeeper from Indonesia was killed and another was critically injured when a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon, officials said Monday.
The peacekeeper, who served with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, was killed Sunday night near Adchit Al Qusayr, close to Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, UNIFIL said in a statement. The second peacekeeper of unknown nationality was critically injured, it said.
Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, have been trading cross-border attacks on and off for years, with their fight intensifying after Israel’s war against Iran-proxy militia Hamas in Gaza. A fragile cease-fire reached in November 2024 crumbled earlier this month amid the larger U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and fighting resumed between the two sides.
Since March 2, Israel has launched a renewed offensive on southern Lebanon, killing at least 1,230 people and wounding more than 3,540 more as of Sunday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said in a statement Monday.
The origin of the projectile that killed the peacekeeper was unknown, UNIFIL said, stating it has launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Created in 1978 by the U.N. Security Council to restore peace in southern Lebanon following Israel’s cross-border military campaign, UNIFIL consists of nearly 8,200 personnel, including 7,375 troops.
Indonesia has the second highest number of troops deployed to UNIFIL with 756, according to its website.
The foreign ministry of Indonesia described the attack as indirect artillery fire, and while not blaming any one side for the deadly projectile it condemned Israel over its ongoing attacks in southern Lebanon and called on both sides to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and cease attacks against civilians.
“We are profoundly saddened by this loss,” the ministry said in a statement.
“We pay our highest respect to the fallen peacekeeper for his dedication and service to international peace and security.”
Iran’s Embassy in Indonesia issued its condolences online, while condemning the peacekeeper’s death as “a direct consequence of Israel’s continued aggression.”
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