March 30, 2026 | 02:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission I, Dave Akbarshah Fikarno, has called on the Indonesian government to assess the effectiveness of the National Armed Forces (TNI) in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following the death of a TNI soldier amid the recent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Speaking at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, March 30, Dave suggested Indonesia consider following Italy’s lead in withdrawing troops from the conflict zone.
“If the situation cannot be declared safe, it is better for the government to withdraw and evaluate the presence of our soldiers in Lebanon,” he said.
Dave expressed concerns over the soldier’s death, questioning whether Indonesia’s presence contributes to peace or places its personnel at risk.
“Instead of maintaining peace, what is happening in Lebanon is effectively a battle, resulting in the death of an Indonesian soldier. Is our presence useful for peacekeeping, or are we becoming targets for attacks by the Israel Defense Forces?” he asked.
The lawmaker also urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request that the UN investigate the attack that killed the TNI soldier, emphasizing the need for justice for the victim’s family.
“Who carried out the attack, and where were they intending to strike? Or was it due to faulty information from the attacking party?” he said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense reported that the escalation of violence in Lebanon resulted in one soldier’s death and injuries to several others.
Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau of the Defense Ministry’s General Secretariat, said, “One person died, one is in critical condition, and two are lightly injured, currently receiving medical treatment.”
Rico added that the incident occurred during an artillery exchange in the mission area. UNIFIL is continuing its investigation to clarify the full sequence of events.
“Further operational developments will be communicated by the TNI,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the incident, describing it as part of a series of events that threaten the safety of peacekeeping personnel.
“I call on all to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety & security of UN personnel and property at all times,” Guterres said in a statement.
Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Indonesia Arranges Repatriation of Peacekeeper Killed in Lebanon
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