Indonesia strongly criticized Israel for what it described as deliberate attacks that resulted in injuries to two of its UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. The incident occurred in the southern city of Namoura, where the peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured by Israeli tank fire.
Indonesia's mission to the United Nations denounced Israel's actions, labeling them as a blatant attempt to spread terror and intimidate both the peacekeeping mission and the international community. The country's UN ambassador, Hari Preboom, addressed the UN Security Council, emphasizing that Israel's actions were unacceptable.
The Israel Defense Forces stated that its troops were operating near a UNIFIL base in Namoura and had instructed the UN forces to remain in protected spaces before opening fire in the area. The Israeli military also accused Hezbollah of operating in close proximity to UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon.
Indonesia's condemnation adds to the growing international criticism of Israel over recent attacks on UN peacekeeping positions. France, Ireland, and Italy, which have contingents in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, have also expressed strong disapproval of Israel's actions.
The UN peacekeeping chief highlighted the increasingly alarming situation in southern Lebanon, stating that peacekeepers are at serious risk. The UN's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council following the Israeli invasion of the country's south. The mission established the Blue Line, a 120-kilometer area along southern Lebanon, to ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
