Indonesians pay respect at the funeral of fallen UN soldiers

Indonesians gathered in Yogyakarta on Tuesday for the funeral of Praka Farizal Rhomadhon, one of three Indonesian soldiers killed while on a UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Footage shows floral tributes laid out as mourners gather to pay their respects. The soldier’s body is currently at the UNIFIL headquarters in Lebanon, awaiting repatriation.

“The Kulon Progo Regency Government extends its deepest condolences on the passing of Private First Class Farizal. […] We pray for him and express our highest respect; may he rest in peace,” said Deputy Regent of Kulonprogo, Ambar Purwoko.

“Private First Class Fahrial was the second child and had called the entire family during Eid al-Fitr, and the whole family was contacted by phone. His mother received the news from her son-in-law’s parents, who informed her of the sad news,” he added.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon over the past two days.

Rhomadhon was killed in a projectile attack on Sunday night in the southern Lebanese village of Adchit al-Qusayr, the UN said. He was serving with Indonesia’s contingent in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Two more peacekeepers were killed and two were wounded on Monday after an ‘explosion of unknown origin’ destroyed a UN vehicle near Bani Hayyan. The UN has launched an investigation into the ‘origin’ of the attacks.

Indonesia has accused the IDF of carrying out both attacks. Meanwhile, Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon on Tuesday claimed that Hezbollah was responsible for the killing of peacekeepers near Bani Hayyan, saying UNIFIL forces were hit by ‘Hezbollah explosive devices.’ Hezbollah has not responded to the allegation at the time of publication.

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