TNI Pressed to Clarify Indonesia's Security Readiness Amid Middle East War

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Co-Founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) Khairul Fahmi has requested the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to explain the domestic security situation amidst the war in the Middle East. He also asked the military unit to explain why a secret telegram about the declaration of 'Alert 1' (Siaga 1) by TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto was leaked.

According to Khairul, the commander's readiness instruction was intended for internal purposes, but the decision has now circulated widely and caused anxiety among the public. "The term 'Alert 1' has a very heavy psychological weight in the ears of the civil public," he told Tempo on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Khairul warns that circulating information about the TNI setting its readiness status to Alert 1 without providing an adequate explanation would seriously harm the country's stability. In the economic sector, he said, the market is very sensitive to security issues. The misconception that the country is seemingly in a state of emergency could trigger market panic, panic selling, and foreign capital flight. "Meanwhile, at the grassroots level, this could ignite unnecessary social unrest," he said.

The security sector researcher argued that in the digital era, where information leakage is almost impossible to contain, the TNI can no longer afford to be reactive, let alone passive. "Managing public perception in a measured way is an inseparable part of security operations," he said.

Meanwhile, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto issued a telegram regarding the declaration of Alert 1 for all defense units in Indonesia on March 1, 2026. The decision requires all military units to be on high alert to anticipate domestic threats amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East following the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The telegram mentioned that the TNI needs to mobilize personnel and primary weapon systems. The army also has to patrol strategic vital targets or economic centers, including airports, ports, train stations, and bus terminals.

In addition, there is also an order for the Jakarta Military Command (Kodam Jaya/Jayakarta) to conduct security patrols at foreign embassies in Jakarta. Intelligence units have also been deployed to detect and prevent any attempts to cause domestic chaos by groups taking advantage of the situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Head of Information Center of TNI Headquarters, Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, has not provided further explanation regarding the mentioned threats or how long the Alert 1 will be applied. He only explained that the declaration of Alert 1 for all defense units in Indonesia aims to anticipate developments in the international, regional, and national environments.

"Thus, the TNI must have a high operational readiness, one of which is by conducting routine readiness checks," said the Head of Information Center of TNI Headquarters, Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah when contacted on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Read: Prabowo Invites Former Military Guards, Aides to Hambalang

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