May 22, 2026 | 05:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 744 Indonesian soldiers are being deployed to Lebanon to join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission today, Friday, May 22, 2026.A ceremony at the military headquarters led by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto marked the departure of the Garuda Contingent.During the ceremony, Agus said Indonesia's participation in the peacekeeping missions reflects the international confidence in the professionalism of Indonesian soldiers.Agus also called on the peacekeepers to uphold the reputation of Indonesia and the Garuda contingent while carrying out their duties. "Adhere to standard operational procedures (SOPs), increase vigilance against developments, and maintain morale and health during the assignment," he said, as quoted by the head of the Air Force Information Bureau, Air Commodore I Nyoman Suadnyana, in a written statement on Friday.The Indonesian troops heading to Lebanon today consist of 571 Army soldiers, 79 Navy personnel, 63 Air Force personnel, and 31 personnel sent from TNI Headquarters.Indonesia's participation at UNIFIL was called into question after three soldiers were killed amid warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, which peaked at the end of March 2026. Some proposed the government withdraw the troops due to the growing security risks.Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo, Head of Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, stated that Indonesia's military presence in Lebanon is part of the commitment to the world peace mission under the UN mandate, therefore it cannot be unilaterally decided to withdraw from the forces.However, he ensured that the troop deployment is carried out alongside an evaluation of the increased risks of peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. He stated that the safety of personnel is the top priority in every deployment and troop rotation."Post-incident, mitigation measures continue to be strengthened through increased vigilance, SOP evaluations, and more intensive coordination with UNIFIL command or other contributing countries," said Rico on Thursday, May 14, 2026.Read: Minister Urges Indonesian Peacekeepers to Behave in Lebanon Ahead DeploymentClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
