JAKARTA: Indonesians paid tribute on Saturday to three of their soldiers killed in attacks in southern Lebanon, as three more members of the country’s peacekeeping mission were injured amid Israel’s escalating offensive in the region.
Maj. Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Chief Sgt. Mohammad Nur Ichwan and Cpl. Farizal Rhomadhon were part of the Indonesian unit serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
They were targeted in separate attacks near the Lebanese villages of Adshit Al-Qusayr and Bani Haiyyan on March 29 and 30 amid exchanges of fire between the invading Israeli forces and armed groups fighting them in southern Lebanon.
A memorial service, attended by the grieving families and President Prabowo Subianto, was held in Jakarta on Saturday evening following the return of the bodies of the fallen soldiers, before they were flown to their respective hometowns for burial.
“We hope and pray that the souls of these fallen heroes will be accepted by the Almighty God and that the family will be given health and patience to face this tragedy,” Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters after the ceremony.
