A peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon as Israeli strikes intensified on the south

A member of the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon was killed overnight, drawing condemnation on Monday, after two Lebanese journalists and medics were killed in Israeli raids over the weekend.

The soldier, from Indonesia, was the first member of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be killed in the war that broke out between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2.

UNIFIL said that the soldier was killed as a result of a shell explosion at one of its sites near the town of Adshit Qusayr in southern Lebanon yesterday, Sunday. It was reported that another soldier was seriously injured.

She added in a statement, “We do not know the source of the missile. We have begun an investigation to determine all the circumstances of the incident.”

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the peacekeeper who was killed was an Indonesian citizen, adding that three others were injured by indirect artillery fire in the vicinity of the location of the Indonesian battalion of the UNIFIL force near Adshit al-Qusayr.

Indonesia condemned the incident, saying that any harm to peacekeeping forces was unacceptable, and reiterated its condemnation of “Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the incident, saying that the attacks on peacekeepers represent serious violations of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes. He called for accountability and urged all parties to ensure the safety of UN personnel.