Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak stated that he has not yet received an order to increase personnel for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

"Such orders come from the Commander of the National Armed Forces (TNI). We will be ready if we receive the order," he said on Sunday.

He mentioned that the TNI will discuss the situation in Lebanon, including the two TNI personnel in UNIFIL who were injured during an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack.

Simanjuntak emphasized that UNIFIL personnel, including those from the TNI, are not authorized to intervene in the armed conflict between the IDF and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Major General Hariyanto, Head of the TNI Information Center, confirmed on October 10 that the TNI personnel serving in UNIFIL were injured in the attack. They sustained minor injuries to their legs but are in stable condition.

An official statement from UNIFIL reported that an IDF Merkava tank targeted and fired at an observation tower at UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, Lebanon.

UNIFIL warned that any attack deliberately aimed at peacekeeping troops violates UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

"We are addressing this matter with the IDF," UNIFIL said in the statement issued on Thursday, October 10.

Related news: Indonesia evacuates 14 more citizens from conflict-hit Lebanon
Related news: Indonesia's TNI troops ready to assist in Lebanon evacuations

Translator: Donny Aditra, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2024