Indonesia has repatriated the remains of three United Nations peacekeepers killed in southern Lebanon during the ongoing conflict involving Israel. The soldiers, members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), were honored in a solemn ceremony on Saturday attended by President Prabowo Subianto.
The coffins, draped in national colors, were carried by uniformed officers as dignitaries and grieving families looked on. Following the ceremony, Foreign Minister Sugiono called for a full UN investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. “This is a peacekeeping mission. Incidents such as this should not happen,” he said, stressing the need for stronger security guarantees for UN personnel.
The casualties include 28-year-old Farizal Rhomadhon, who died last week after a projectile explosion. A UN security source told AFP that Israeli tank fire was responsible. The following day, two more Indonesian peacekeepers—Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33, and Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 26—were killed when a blast struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy.
Families of the victims expressed shock and sorrow. Iskandar’s father, Iskandarudin, lamented that peacekeepers were being drawn into violence. “We were really sad and regretful, because this is a UN troop, a peacekeeping troop, not deployed for war,” he said from his home in West Java.
The three men are expected to be buried on Sunday. The Indonesian government has pledged financial support for their families as the nation mourns the loss of soldiers sent abroad to uphold peace.
Source: Ajazeera
