Three Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL said, prompting Jakarta to demand urgent Security Council action and stronger protection for peacekeeping personnel.
UNIFIL reported that two peacekeepers died and two were wounded by an explosion near Bani Hayyan on Monday. A separate strike late on Sunday hit close to an Indonesian position near Adchit al-Qusayr, killing another soldier and critically wounding a colleague.
Indonesia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait said the safety of peacekeepers must be the “top priority” and urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Foreign Minister Sugiono called the attacks “heinous,” told UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the deaths, and formally requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Lebanon’s foreign minister expressed condolences, condemned the attack and praised the Indonesian contingent’s role in helping maintain stability.
The killings come as the wider regional conflict stemming from the US-Israeli campaign against Iran enters its second month, with strikes and counterstrikes reported across the Middle East. The escalation has seen damage to civilian infrastructure and attacks on commercial shipping. Kuwaiti state media reported a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker anchored off Dubai was hit and caught fire; Dubai authorities said the blaze was later extinguished and the 24 crew were safe. Kuwait Petroleum warned of a possible oil spill.
Iranian officials said US and Israeli strikes destroyed a desalination plant on Qeshm Island and damaged a major pharmaceutical facility that produces medicines including anti-cancer and anesthetic drugs. Rights groups and observers warned that attacks on water and medical infrastructure could cause catastrophic humanitarian harm and may breach international law.
Regional reactions have varied. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called for de-escalation and urged parties not to target energy or nuclear infrastructure, saying the future of the Strait of Hormuz should be decided by regional actors. China said it and Pakistan would “strengthen” coordination over the Iran situation and press for peace. Italy rejected a reported US request to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for Iran-related operations, saying treaty terms require prior authorization.
The crisis is affecting economies and politics. Eurozone inflation rose to 2.5% in March from 1.9% in February, driven largely by higher energy costs linked to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Poland introduced a temporary law capping petrol prices and cutting fuel VAT to shield consumers. MarineTraffic reported two COSCO container ships successfully transited the Strait after earlier attempts were impeded.
On the ground in Lebanon, fighting remains intense. Israel said four of its soldiers were killed and two wounded in combat in southern Lebanon with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. UNIFIL and regional authorities have repeatedly warned that civilians and peacekeepers are increasingly at risk as hostilities continue.
US President Donald Trump reportedly told aides he might accept ending the campaign even if the Strait remained partially closed, focusing first on strikes against Iranian missiles and naval assets and then using diplomatic pressure to reopen the waterway. The White House has threatened further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, including Kharg Island; legal experts cautioned such attacks could amount to war crimes if they cause disproportionate civilian harm.
Indonesia’s demand for an emergency Security Council meeting underscores growing concern among troop-contributing countries and the UN about protecting peacekeepers and preventing the conflict from spreading further across the Middle East.