Three United Nations peacekeepers killed in Lebanon
Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, following a bloody weekend in which Lebanese journalists and medics were killed in Israeli attacks.
In the statement made by the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL, it was stated that two peacekeepers were killed after an explosion of an unknown cause damaged their vehicle near Bani Hayyan in Southern Lebanon on Monday.
Two more soldiers were injured in the explosion.
Earlier, overnight from Sunday to Monday, another Indonesian soldier was killed when one of the group’s positions exploded near the village of Adchit al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon.
At that time, another peacekeeper was also seriously injured.
Today in Southern Lebanon, two UNIFIL peacekeepers were tragically killed when an explosion of unknown origin damaged their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was seriously injured and a fourth was injured.— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) March 30, 2026
Sunday’s death was the first among UN peacekeepers in the new war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which broke out on March 2.
UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel said: “These are two separate incidents and we are investigating them as two separate incidents.” he said.
In response to the first death, Indonesia’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the peacekeeper who died was one of its citizens and that three others were injured by “indirect artillery fire”.
Indonesia condemned the incident and said any harm to peacekeepers was unacceptable, while reiterating its condemnation of “Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon”.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the events.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that attacks on peacekeepers are a grave violation of international humanitarian law and could amount to a war crime.
“We strongly condemn these unacceptable events; peacekeepers should never be targets,” UNIFIL chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters in a briefing on Monday. he said.
UNIFIL is in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the border with Israel, which is at the center of clashes between Israeli soldiers and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.
Two days after Israel and the United States attacked Iran, Lebanon was drawn into the war in the Middle East when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran.
Hezbollah’s attack led to a new Israeli ground and air offensive.
According to Lebanese officials, more than 1,240 people lost their lives in Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Among them are more than 120 children, nearly 80 women and dozens of healthcare workers.
More than 400 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since March 2, according to two sources familiar with Hezbollah’s count.
The Israeli army warned residents of six villages in Lebanon’s western Bekaa region to leave on Monday, the first warning issued for those areas.
The military said the warning was prompted by what it described as militant activity in the area, without providing further details.
Fresh air strikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon on Monday, and at least one attack hit Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The Israeli army said the attacks in Beirut targeted commanders responsible for coordination between Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups.
