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Fallen Indonesian UN peacekeepers return home

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The bodies of three Indonesian soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.The remains were transferred to the VVIP building at Terminal 3, where a military honor ceremony was prepared and expected to be led by President Prabowo Subianto.The fallen soldiers were identified as Captain Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ikhwan and Private First Class Farizal Rhomadhon.Rhomadhon was reportedly killed by artillery fire near the Indonesian UNIFIL contingent’s position in Adchit Al Qusayr, southern Lebanon, on March 29.The following day, Captain Zulmi and First Sergeant Ikhwan were killed during an escort convoy operation.Five other Indonesian soldiers were injured in the incidents: First Lieutenant Sulthan Wirdean Maulana, Private Deni Rianto, Private Rico Pramudia, Private Bayu Prakoso and Private Arif Kurniawan.Indonesia has again urged the United Nations Security Council to investigate attacks involving its peacekeepers after another incident on April 3.In that explosion in El Addaiseh, southern Lebanon, three additional Indonesian personnel serving with UNIFIL were injured.In a statement on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern over the latest incident and called for urgent action.“Indonesia calls on the United Nations Security Council to address this matter immediately and on UNIFIL troop- and police-contributing countries to convene a meeting to strengthen force protection measures,” the ministry said.Authorities said two Indonesian Air Force aircraft, a CN-295 and a C-130J, were prepared at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.The aircraft will transport the bodies to their hometowns in Bandung and Yogyakarta for burial.Earlier, UNIFIL held a tribute ceremony for the three soldiers at a Lebanese Air Force hangar in Beirut on April 2.The ceremony was led by UNIFIL Force Commander and Head of Mission Major General Diodato Abagnara.It was attended by Indonesian diplomats, including the ambassador to Lebanon, as well as representatives from United Nations Headquarters in New York.Lebanese military officials and members of the international peacekeeping contingent were also present.Authorities said the repatriation was conducted with full military honors.They emphasized Indonesia’s continued commitment to UN peacekeeping missions abroad.