UN Security Council Expresses Outrage Over Deaths of Indonesian Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The United Nations, on April 2 (NationPress), expressed deep concern over incidents that led to the tragic deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In a formal statement, members of the Security Council reiterated their unwavering support for UNIFIL and urged all involved parties to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel and facilities, while also ensuring the mission's freedom of movement per international law. They emphasized the necessity for all parties to avoid actions that could jeopardize the safety of peacekeepers.
The Council highlighted that peacekeepers must never be targeted and called upon the United Nations to conduct an investigation into the incidents through UNIFIL, keeping the relevant troop-contributing country updated on progress, in line with Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021).
Moreover, they urged all parties to fully comply with Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and reaffirmed their strong commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Additionally, five other peacekeepers sustained injuries over the weekend. Recent weeks have seen multiple incidents impacting UNIFIL positions, resulting in injuries to peacekeepers amidst ongoing tensions along the Blue Line, as noted in the statement.
Previously, on March 31, Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares, unequivocally condemned the killing of the three Indonesian peacekeepers, expressing outrage over the attacks and demanding a thorough investigation during an interview with Radio Euskadi.
The three Indonesian soldiers, part of a Spanish-led UNIFIL contingent, lost their lives in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, caused by explosions from unidentified projectiles. These incidents occurred in an area where Israeli forces were active.
Spain contributes approximately 600 to 700 personnel to UNIFIL and leads the eastern sector of the mission.