Jakarta. Iran has blamed the recent death of an Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeeper on Israel and the US in a condolence message.

An Indonesian peacekeeper, known as Farizal Rhomadhon, was killed in an indirect artillery fire in Lebanon late on Sunday. Farizal was serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Three other Indonesian personnel also sustained injuries, one of whom faced severe wounds. Israel’s war with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah had intensified in the weeks before the projectile dropped on the UNIFIL position over the weekend.

In a social media post, the Iranian Embassy in Indonesia expressed its “deepest condolences” on the tragic loss. Iran also did not hesitate to slam Israel and the US as Tehran’s separate war with these two entered its second month.

“We strongly condemn this heinous act, which is a direct consequence of Israel’s continued aggression, carried out with the complicity and full support of the USA,” the embassy wrote.

“Targeting peacekeepers is a grave violation of international law and must not go unpunished.”

The Iran-backed Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israel in early March in retaliation for the latter’s recent killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel had teamed up with the US military to coordinate the attack that triggered a leadership change in Tehran. 

At home, Indonesia has demanded a "thorough and transparent investigation” into the peacekeeper’s death. The UNIFIL said in a separate statement it had not determined the origin of the projectile, but had initiated an investigation. Military spokesperson Aulia Dwi Nasrullah told the Jakarta Globe that an administration process was underway to bring Farizal’s body back home.

“As the situation in Lebanon escalates, the Indonesian Armed Forces [TNI] has taken steps to be extra vigilant in line with the UNIFIL standard operating procedures,” Aulia said via text.

TNI did not point fingers at anyone as Indonesia wants to wait for the results of UNIFIL’s investigation. The Indonesian government, however, has “reiterated its condemnation of” Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

“.... [Indonesia] calls on all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, cease attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure, and return to dialogue,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela told the Globe.

The UNIFIL mission has been sporadically caught in the crosshairs of Israel-Hezbollah fighting. As of March 23, Indonesia has contributed 756 personnel to the mission.

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