Indonesia: Indonesia on Tuesday condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon while seeking an emergency UN Security Council meeting over the killing of three of its peacekeepers in Lebanon.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry expressed grave concerns over the recent incidents, stating, "The recurrence of such heinous attacks against Indonesian peacekeepers within a short span of time is utterly unacceptable," in a statement posted on the social media platform X. The ministry emphasized that these incidents should not be seen as isolated occurrences but as part of a worsening security situation in southern Lebanon, where ongoing Israeli military operations have endangered United Nations peacekeepers.
On Monday, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, during a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reiterated the urgency of convening an emergency UN Security Council meeting. He stressed, "The safety and security of UN peacekeepers is non-negotiable and must be upheld at all times." Sugiono, who is known by one name, also expressed appreciation for Guterres' condolences and the UN's readiness to cooperate with Indonesia. He called for a "swift, thorough, and transparent investigation" into the incidents.
The recent escalation in violence saw two Indonesian peacekeepers killed in a blast targeting their vehicle in southern Lebanon on Monday. This incident followed the death of another Indonesian peacekeeper on Sunday, who was killed when a projectile hit a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position near Adshit al-Qusayr.
The tensions in the region have been heightened since Israel initiated airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon in response to a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. The situation has been further complicated by the US and Israel's air offensive on Iran on February 28, which resulted in over 1,340 fatalities, including the then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and countries hosting US military assets, leading to casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions in global markets and aviation.