Indonesia Demands UN Probe After Fallen Peacekeepers Return from Volatile Lebanon

TANGERANG, Investortrust.id — Indonesia is escalating diplomatic pressure on the United Nations following the return of three fallen soldiers killed during a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. President Prabowo Subianto received the caskets at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday evening, as the government demands a full investigation into what it calls a "serious breach" of international safety protocols for non-combatant forces.

The death of Indonesian peacekeepers—traditionally one of the largest contributors to UN missions—threatens to shift Jakarta’s diplomatic stance toward the conflict in the Middle East. For global observers, this raises the risk of a diplomatic fracture between Indonesia and the United Nations if safety guarantees for the 1,200 Indonesian troops currently in Lebanon are not reinforced. Any withdrawal or scaling back of Indonesian forces could create a massive security vacuum in one of the world's most volatile border regions.

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A Hero’s Return Amid Diplomatic Fury

The fallen soldiers, posthumously promoted to Major Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Chief Sgt. Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Second Cpl. Farizal Rhomadhon, arrived via Turkish Airlines following a fatal week in southern Lebanon. Second Cpl. Farizal was killed by artillery fire on March 29, while the other two officers died a day later when their convoy was targeted.

Foreign Minister Sugiono, who attended the ceremony, was blunt in his assessment of the UN’s failure to protect its personnel. He emphasized that these troops are "peacekeepers, not peacemakers," and lack the heavy armaments required for active combat. The Indonesian government is now calling on the UN Security Council and France, the penholder for Lebanon affairs, to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Escalating Risks in Southern Lebanon

The fatalities come as Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon intensify, creating a high-risk environment for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). On April 3, just a day before the repatriation, three more Indonesian peacekeepers were injured in a blast in El Addaiseh, marking the third such incident in seven days.

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak stated that while soldiers are trained for high-risk zones, the sheer frequency of these attacks is unprecedented. He confirmed that the military is currently evaluating standard operating procedures, including the effectiveness of bunkers and shelter protocols, as the conflict zone becomes increasingly unpredictable.

National Honors and Final Rest

President Prabowo, a former special forces commander, showed a rare moment of public emotion by kissing the forehead of Chief Sgt. Nur Ichwan’s young child during the ceremony. The President’s presence underscores the military's central role in Indonesian identity and the administration’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.

The three soldiers will be buried with full military honors in their respective hometowns of Bandung, Magelang, and Kulonprogo. As the nation mourns, the focus turns to the UN headquarters in New York, where Indonesia is expected to lead a coalition of troop-contributing countries to demand a radical overhaul of peacekeeping safety in active war zones.