RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The United Nations has released preliminary findings into two late-March incidents in southern Lebanon that claimed the lives of three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), underscoring the risks faced by personnel in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said evidence from the March 29 incident -- including impact site analysis and projectile fragments -- indicates that a 120 mm tank shell fired from an Israeli Merkava tank struck UN position 7-1 near Ett Taibe.

He noted that UNIFIL had shared the coordinates of all its positions with the Israel Defense Forces earlier in March to minimize risks.

Regarding the March 30 incident, investigators concluded that an improvised explosive device (IED), triggered by a tripwire, caused the blast that hit a UN vehicle. A second IED was found nearby the same day. Based on the location, blast characteristics, and current context, the device was likely planted by Hezbollah, Dujarric said.

The attacks killed Major Inf (Posthumous) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Sergeant Major (Posthumous) Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Corporal (Posthumous) Farizal Rhomadhon, who were part of the Indonesian contingent in UNIFIL, a mission that has operated in southern Lebanon since 1978.

Each was posthumously promoted as a mark of respect, and their remains received full military honors upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

The UN has conveyed its findings to the governments of Indonesia, Lebanon, and Israel, while stressing that these are initial conclusions based on physical evidence. A full investigation, including a Board of Inquiry, is underway.

Dujarric expressed condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the Indonesian government and called for accountability.

“These incidents are unacceptable. We have asked all parties to ensure investigations proceed under national authorities so perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said, adding that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

He emphasized that all parties must uphold their obligations to guarantee the safety of UN personnel and respect the inviolability of UN facilities. ***