Three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations have been killed in southern Lebanon in two separate incidents, as Israeli military strikes intensify across the region.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that two peacekeepers died on Monday after an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon. Two additional soldiers were injured in the blast.
In a separate incident late Sunday, another Indonesian peacekeeper was killed when a shell struck a UNIFIL position near the town of Adshit al-Qusayr, leaving a second soldier critically wounded. The fatality marks the first UN peacekeeper killed since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this month.
Indonesia strongly condemned the attacks, warning that the incidents reflect a rapidly deteriorating security environment in southern Lebanon. Foreign Minister Sugiono called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and demanded a swift, transparent investigation following consultations with António Guterres.
The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incidents to determine whether they were caused by Hezbollah activity or Israeli operations.
Guterres described attacks on peacekeepers as serious violations of international humanitarian law that could constitute war crimes. Meanwhile, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the incidents, stressing that peacekeepers must never be targeted under any circumstances.
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