Three Indonesian Blue Helmets serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon, prompting Jakarta to call for a thorough and impartial UN investigation and raising urgent questions about the safety of peacekeeping personnel in the conflict zone.
According to the Jakarta Post editorial, one peacekeeper died in Adchit al-Qusayr and two others in Bani Hayyan. Indonesia's government and press have been swift to condemn the actions that led to the deaths, describing them as a blatant violation of international law, which prohibits warring parties from targeting UN personnel.
Although UNIFIL's investigation is ongoing, Indonesian officials and commentators have pointed to Israel as responsible for the incidents, rejecting Israeli military claims that the affected areas constituted active combat zones against Hezbollah. Critics note that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) possess advanced targeting technology that should enable clear identification of UN positions.
These are not the first such incidents involving Indonesian peacekeepers. In October 2024, Merkava tanks reportedly fired at an observation tower in Naqoura staffed by Indonesian personnel and struck a UNIFIL bunker in Ras Naqoura, injuring two Indonesians. The pattern of incidents has intensified Indonesian concerns about the viability and safety of continued participation in the UNIFIL mission.
The Jakarta Post writes that Indonesia has also voiced skepticism about the likely outcome of any formal UN inquiry. Indonesian commentators warned that Washington, as Israel's principal ally, could act to limit accountability measures against the Netanyahu government, potentially rendering UN findings inconclusive or unenforceable.
The incidents have reignited a broader debate within Indonesia — the world's largest Muslim-majority country and a longstanding UNIFIL contributor — about its strategic posture in a region undergoing rapid geopolitical realignment. The editorial called on Jakarta to reassess its role, citing Israel's ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon, which it characterised as a continuation of the country's 1982 invasion, as well as the unresolved conflict in Gaza.
Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. The deaths of its peacekeepers are expected to further harden domestic public opinion and increase parliamentary pressure on the government to review the terms and conditions of its UNIFIL deployment.
Photo: The source