On Monday, two Indonesian peacekeepers tragically lost their lives due to a roadside explosion in southern Lebanon, as reported by UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix based on initial investigations.

The incident occurred near Bani Hayyan, where the explosion destroyed the peacekeepers’ vehicle. In addition to the fatalities, a third peacekeeper suffered severe injuries, while a fourth sustained minor injuries, according to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).

This incident marks the second devastating event within just 24 hours, following another fatality of an Indonesian peacekeeper on Sunday, who was killed by a projectile of unknown origin in Adchit Al Qusayr.

Unifil has initiated investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding both explosions. Lacroix informed the UN Security Council that the findings of the initial investigation pointed to an IED (improvised explosive device) being responsible for the fatalities. Meanwhile, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, Stéphane Dujarric, noted that the other fatal incident was likely caused by an exploding projectile landing near the Indonesians’ position.

The deaths of the peacekeepers coincide with escalating tensions, as the Israeli military recently announced intentions to intensify operations against Hezbollah, following the group's rocket attacks targeted at Israel in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

In remarks on Telegram, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their review concluded that the recent explosion was not caused by IDF activity, emphasizing the absence of IDF troops in the area of the explosion.

Separately, four IDF soldiers were reported killed in combat in southern Lebanon.

Dujarric reiterated the commitment of the international community to ensure the safety of peacekeepers. He emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue through the Unifil mechanism to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.

Unifil has been operational since 1978, serving as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, and has lost approximately 339 peacekeepers over the years.

Despite a ceasefire in November 2024, violence persists, leading to significant casualties, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting that over 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire began, including many civilians.