A peacekeeper serving with the United Nations mission in Lebanon has been killed after a projectile struck a UN position in the country’s south, the mission confirmed.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the incident occurred on Sunday near the village of Adchit al-Qusayr, where a projectile exploded at one of its positions. Another peacekeeper was critically injured in the blast.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry later confirmed that the deceased peacekeeper was one of its citizens, adding that three other Indonesian personnel were injured by what it described as “indirect artillery fire” near their contingent’s location.
UNIFIL said it has launched an investigation to determine the origin of the projectile and the circumstances surrounding the attack. “We do not know the origin of the projectile,” the mission stated.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the incident, describing attacks on peacekeepers as serious violations of international humanitarian law that could amount to war crimes. He called for accountability and urged all parties involved to ensure the safety of UN personnel.
UNIFIL has long been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor tensions along the demarcation line with Israel, a region that has seen repeated clashes between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. In recent years, the mission has increasingly found itself caught in the crossfire.
Earlier this month, Ghana’s armed forces reported that its UN peacekeeping battalion headquarters in Lebanon was struck by missile attacks, leaving two soldiers critically injured. Israel later acknowledged that its tank fire had hit a UN position during an exchange with Hezbollah, saying its troops were responding to anti-tank missile fire from the group.
In a renewed appeal, UNIFIL urged all parties to uphold international law and avoid actions that could endanger peacekeepers and UN property.
Indonesia condemned the latest incident, stressing that any harm to peacekeeping personnel is unacceptable, while also reiterating its criticism of Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon.
The violence comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Lebanon increasingly drawn into the broader Middle East conflict. Hostilities intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel earlier this month, prompting a new Israeli offensive against the group.
Melissa Enoch
