Military funerals and renewed outrage follow deadly attacks on Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon
Indonesia has laid to rest three UN peacekeepers killed in southern Lebanon, turning national grief into renewed demands for accountability and stronger protection for troops serving in increasingly dangerous conflict zones.
Three Peacekeepers Buried With Military Honors
Three Indonesian peacekeepers killed in two separate explosions in southern Lebanon were buried on April 5 in their hometowns during military funerals with gun salutes. Farizal Rhomadhon, 28, died after a projectile exploded on March 29, while Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33, and Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 26, were killed a day later when an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy. Their coffins were draped in the Indonesian flag, and grieving family members scattered flower petals over their graves.
Families Mourn While Honoring Their Service
The funerals were held in different parts of Indonesia, with Zulmi buried in a military cemetery in Bandung, West Java, while Ichwan and Farizal were laid to rest in their hometowns in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Speaking after the burial, Zulmi’s father, Iskandarudin, said he was letting his son go with pride despite the pain of losing him, adding that he believed his son was waiting for him in heaven.
State Leaders Promise Recognition And Support
The bodies of the three soldiers arrived in Jakarta on April 4 and were received with honors in a ceremony attended by President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesian National Armed Forces commander General Agus Subiyanto said the government had prepared all rights and entitlements for the fallen soldiers, including compensation from the United Nations. Prabowo also said Indonesians strongly condemn every brutal act that undermines peace and causes the deaths of the nation’s soldiers.
Fresh Attack Deepens Security Concerns
The funerals took place just days after another blast at a UN facility near El Adeisse on April 3 injured three more Indonesian peacekeepers. The back-to-back incidents have intensified concern in Jakarta over the deteriorating security environment in southern Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire since the conflict spread into Lebanon as part of the wider Middle East war.
Indonesia Pushes For Investigation And Guarantees
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry called the attacks unacceptable and urged the UN Security Council to immediately convene a meeting of troop-contributing countries to UNIFIL to review the situation and improve protection for peacekeeping personnel. Foreign Minister Sugiono also demanded a thorough UN investigation and stronger security guarantees for soldiers serving under the UN flag, signaling that Indonesia is seeking both accountability and urgent operational changes.
The burial of the three Indonesian peacekeepers has turned national mourning into a stronger diplomatic push for justice and better safeguards in conflict zones. For Indonesians, the tragedy underscores the human cost of contributing to international peacekeeping missions. For Singaporeans and others in the region, it is a reminder that instability in the Middle East can have direct consequences for Southeast Asian countries through security, diplomacy, and the loss of lives far from home.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Jakarta Post (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Peacekeepers Lebanon, UNIFIL Indonesia, Lebanon Explosion Victims, Indonesian Military Funeral, Peacekeeper Protection, Foreign Ministry Indonesia
