Indonesia Demands UN Probe After Israeli Artillery Kills Peacekeeper in Lebanon

JAKARTA, Indonesia (JakartaWeekly.com) – Indonesia has launched a scathing diplomatic protest and demanded a full United Nations investigation after Israeli artillery fire struck a peacekeeping position in Southern Lebanon, killing one Indonesian soldier and wounding three others.

Foreign Minister Sugiono, speaking from Tokyo on Monday, confirmed the death of Praka Farizal Rhomadhon, a member of the Garuda Contingent serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The fatal strike occurred on Sunday, March 29, in the town of Adshit al-Qusyar.

A Direct Hit in Adshit al-Qusyar

The incident marks a dangerous escalation for the UN mission. According to military officials, the Indonesian contingent came under fire when Israeli artillery rounds impacted their position.

While Farizal was killed in the line of duty, three other Indonesian peacekeepers—Praka Rico Pramudia, Praka Bayu Prakoso, and Praka Arif—sustained injuries in the same attack. The fallen soldier’s body is currently being held at the UNIFIL East Sector Headquarters as Jakarta begins the grim task of repatriation.

“We convey our deepest condolences for the loss of our soldier,” Sugiono said in a recorded statement. “We demand a full investigation from UNIFIL to uncover the source and cause of this incident.”

Jakarta Demands Accountability

The killing has triggered an immediate diplomatic response. Indonesia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York has been instructed to meet urgently with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

Beyond arranging for Farizal’s return to Indonesian soil, Jakarta is calling for the UN to hold those responsible for the strike accountable. Indonesia has long been one of the largest contributors to UNIFIL, and the safety of its personnel has become a flashpoint in its stance on the Middle East conflict.

Condemning the Escalation

Foreign Minister Sugiono did not mince words regarding the source of the fire, condemning the Israeli military’s actions in Southern Lebanon in the “strongest possible terms.”

“We urge all parties to immediately carry out a de-escalation to prevent more casualties in this conflict,” he added.

Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, spokesperson for the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), confirmed that administrative processes are underway to bring Farizal home. The fallen private was part of the Mechanical Battalion Task Force XXIII-S, a unit tasked with maintaining the fragile “Blue Line” between Lebanon and Israel.

As the body of Praka Farizal awaits its final journey back to Indonesia, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the rising toll the Israel-Lebanon border conflict is taking on international observers caught in the crossfire.