Former President SBY Urges UN to Halt UNIFIL Deployment in Lebanon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has asked the United Nations Security Council to stop the assignment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Lebanon. The statement was made through his account, @SBYudhoyono, on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

In his post, the former president, often referred to as SBY, initially expressed his condolences over the deaths of Private Farizal Rhomadhon, Captain (Inf) Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, and Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, three Indonesian soldiers who served as peacekeepers in Lebanon.

SBY shared how deeply moved he was by witnessing the families of the soldiers in grief. SBY also accompanied President Prabowo Subianto in paying their last respects to the three fallen soldiers, which took place at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

He mentioned that he could feel the profound sorrow experienced by the families left behind. "I know the meaning of tears falling on their cheeks," SBY wrote.

As a result, SBY supports the government's decision to request that the UN conduct an investigation. However, SBY also suggests that the government urged the UN to either stop the UNIFIL assignment in Lebanon or move it to a safer area.

He explained that the task of the UN peacekeeping force, such as the Garuda XXIII/S Contingent, is to maintain peace or peacekeeping, not peacemaking. Peacekeeping forces are not heavily armed and are not mandated to carry out combat duties. SBY mentioned that this is stipulated in Chapter 6 of the UN Charter.

Based on these regulations, SBY continued, peacekeepers are tasked with maintaining peace in the Blue Line, the border area separating Israeli and Lebanese territories. Originally, this area was a blue zone and not a war zone.

However, SBY assessed that, in fact, the Blue Line is no longer safe. "Currently, the reality is that they are no longer around the 'Blue Line' but are now in a 'war zone,' where daily battles are raging between Israel and Hezbollah. It has even been reported that Israeli forces have advanced 7 kilometers from the 'Blue Line'," SBY said.

SBY deemed this situation very dangerous for peacekeeping forces, including the Indonesian soldiers. Because at any moment, they could become victims of the ongoing battles.

"With this argument, the UN, in New York, should promptly make a decisive decision and take firm steps to stop the UNIFIL assignment and/or relocate them to a field of battle that is still smoldering at the moment," he said.

Furthermore, SBY urged the UN to convene and issue a decisive and clear resolution. According to SBY, like Prabowo, he feels a moral obligation to fight for justice and security for the Indonesian soldiers in Lebanon.

He explained that Indonesian soldiers began participating in the peace mission in Lebanon during his presidency in 2006.

SBY explained that at that time, the war between Israel and Lebanon resulted in constant casualties. Therefore, as soon as the UN agreed to deploy peacekeeping forces, Indonesia took the initiative to propose sending a battalion to bolster the mission.

SBY even directly purchased a number of primary weapons systems from France to equip the Indonesian forces.

SBY said the first Indonesian contingent, Garuda XXIII/A, departed for Lebanon in November 2006. From 2006 to 2026, 19 Indonesian contingents served in Lebanon, with an average assignment period of one year. SBY concluded his statement by offering encouragement to the soldiers who are still serving in Lebanon.

"As a senior and elder of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, I convey to the soldiers of the Garuda XXIII/S Contingent who are still in Lebanon, to remain enthusiastic in carrying out their noble duties. Do your best and take good care of yourselves. Families who love you are waiting for your return to the homeland," he said.

Read: Prabowo Condemns Killing of Indonesian UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

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