Australia condemns deadly attacks on Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon

Two peacekeepers were killed and another two injured during an attack near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon, while another Indonesian peacekeeper was killed from a projective explosion at mission’s base in Ett Taibe earlier this month.

“We the foreign ministers of Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Türkiye, and Australia, comprising MIKTA, condemn in the strongest terms the killing of Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,” according to an official statement from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

“The MIKTA foreign ministers express their deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, as well as to Indonesia. They wish a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

“Attacks on UN peacekeepers and aid workers are unacceptable and violate international law, particularly international humanitarian law. They must never be the target of an attack. The members of MIKTA stand in solidarity with Indonesia and fully support its call for an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation of the attacks.

“In addition, as signatories to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, the foreign ministers of MIKTA reiterate the importance of ensuring the safety and security of humanitarian personnel.

“Peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel save lives. This work should never cost them their own.”

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UNIFIL is conducting investigations “to determine the circumstances of these tragic developments”, according to the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

“We strongly condemn these unacceptable incidents. Peacekeepers must never be a target,” he told journalists at a press briefing at UN Headquarters.

“We also remain seriously concerned about several aggressive behaviour incidents against UNIFIL peacekeepers in the past couple of days.

“(UN peacekeepers) remain on the ground, carrying out Security Council-mandated tasks, in these extremely dangerous conditions.”

More than 8,000 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries serve with UNIFIL. The mission was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.

Peacekeepers also assist in implementing the Security Council resolution that brought an end to more than 30 days of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in 2006.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.