The government of Indonesia has denounced the killing of another of its peacekeepers in Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities, renewing its demand for a United Nations investigation into the incidents.
Corporal Rico Pramudia, 31, who was serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, sustained critical injuries following a “projectile explosion” at a base in Adchit al-Qusayr on March 29. He later died in a hospital in Beirut on Friday.
His death raises the number of Indonesian peacekeepers killed in the conflict to four.
“Indonesia once again condemns the attack by Israel that resulted in the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper. Any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and may amount to a war crime,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahd Naby told Anadolu.
He added that Indonesia is again urging the UN to carry out an “immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation” to establish the facts, stressing that accountability must be ensured.
“Safety and security of the UN peacekeepers is not negotiable. Therefore, the government of Indonesia also continues its coordination with the United Nations and other troop- and police-contributing countries to strengthen the protection of peacekeepers, including through a comprehensive evaluation of their safety and security, as well as enhanced risk mitigation measures in UNIFIL’s area of operations,” the spokesman said.
The Indonesian government also conveyed its “deepest” condolences to the family of the deceased and paid tribute to his “dedication and sacrifice in maintaining international peace,” he added.
Following the incident, he explained that through “close and intensive” coordination involving UNIFIL, Indonesian authorities, the Lebanese government, and medical teams in Beirut, efforts were made to provide immediate and optimal treatment.
Despite these interventions, Pramudia succumbed to his injuries due to their severity, the spokesman noted.
He further stated that Jakarta remains in “close” contact with UNIFIL to ensure that the repatriation of the late peacekeeper is conducted promptly and with dignity.
With his passing, the number of UNIFIL personnel killed during the current escalation has risen to six, while several others have sustained serious injuries.
Israel has carried out extensive air strikes across Lebanon and launched a ground offensive in the south following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. Tensions in the region have remained high since the United States and Israel initiated air operations targeting Iran on February 28.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been extended by three weeks after ambassador-level discussions at the White House.
The truce, initially brokered by the United States for a 10-day period beginning April 16, had been due to expire on Sunday.
Since March 2, intensified Israeli military actions in Lebanon have resulted in more than 2,200 deaths and displaced over one million people, according to Lebanese authorities.
