Indonesia Rallies Global Support to Protect UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has led a multinational push at the United Nations to strengthen protections for peacekeepers in lebanon, following a series of deadly attacks that have heightened concerns over their safety.

At UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Indonesia introduced a Joint Statement on the Safety and Security of Peacekeepers, backed by 73 countries and UN observers as of 4:30 p.m. local time. The statement was delivered by Indonesian Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Umar Hadi, during a joint media stakeout with France.

The initiative follows escalating violence in Lebanon since late March 2026, which resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers and injuries to personnel from several countries, including France, Ghana, Nepal, and Poland.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry described the move as a concrete follow-up to commitments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono to respond firmly to attacks targeting peacekeeping forces.

In the joint statement, troop-contributing countries expressed deep concern over rising tensions since March 2, 2026, and strongly condemned ongoing attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), including acts of aggression against its personnel and leadership.

“The safety and security of UN peacekeepers are non-negotiable. We urge the UN Security Council to use all available instruments to strengthen protection for peacekeepers amid an increasingly dangerous situation,” Umar Hadi said, as quoted on the Foreign Affairs Ministry official website.

Indonesia has also called on the United Nations Security Council to continue a comprehensive investigation into all incidents involving peacekeepers, while urging all parties to halt violence, de-escalate tensions, and return to negotiations for a peaceful resolution. ***