March 31, 2026 | 05:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dave Laksono, Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I, stated that a comprehensive evaluation must be conducted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) following the deaths of three soldiers on peacekeeping missions in Lebanon at the end of March 2026. One of the evaluations involves considering changes to the current operational strategy.
"Whether the number is gradually reduced or the operation is modified to remain inside the base," he remarked at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
He urged the Ministry of Defense and TNI Headquarters to thoroughly remap the duties and operations of military personnel currently stationed in Lebanon. Moreover, he suspected that the escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is still very much ongoing.
In addition, Dave urged the government to consider a temporary suspension of the peace operation. According to him, there are approximately 800 TNI soldiers involved in the UNIFIL mission whose safety must be prioritized and protected.
"If it cannot be declared safe, perhaps the operation should be temporarily stopped until the situation is truly conducive and the mission is redefined," he said.
The Golkar Party politician also called for a special and in-depth investigation to be conducted. This inquiry would cover the cause of the attack, the movement of peacekeeping personnel, and the suspected presence of landmines in the area surrounding the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) post.
"If it is indeed a public crossing and landmines have been planted, then it constitutes a violation of war," Dave asserted.
Previously, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, stated that the soldiers were attacked due to the increased intensity of fighting in South Lebanon. "The incident in the South Lebanon region affected TNI Task Force personnel who were carrying out escort duties to support UNIFIL's operational activities," Rico said in a written statement on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
He noted that the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. According to Rico, UNIFIL is currently investigating the precise circumstances that led to the deaths of the two TNI soldiers.
Rico added that two other TNI soldiers also suffered severe injuries. These two personnel are currently receiving intensive treatment at a health facility in Beirut, Lebanon.
Read: UN Says Attacks on UNIFIL Peacekeepers Violate UNSC Resolution 1701
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