Indonesia Readies its UNIFIL Contingent in Lebanon for Worsening Situation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has readied its plan for the Indonesian contingency in Lebanon in case of a worsening situation on the border of Israel and Lebanon.

Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces have escalated their clash since the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict broke out on Oct. 7.

The worsening situation of violence mainly occurs at the border, albeit Israel did fire several airstrikes in the territory of Lebanon.

According to the calculation of the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 150 people have been killed since the start of the battle. While most were members of Hezbollah, tens of civilians and three journalists were also killed.

At least four Israeli civilians and nine soldiers were also killed since Oct. 7, the Israeli military says.

Indonesian foreign ministry said there are no changes in the United Nations mandate for the Indonesian forces in Lebanon. "We will keep engaging with our forces in Lebanon through our ambassador," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said when met in South Jakarta on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

The director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities at the ministry Judha Nugraha said around 217 Indonesian nationals currently reside in Lebanon. 

"From time to time, not only assessing the situation in Gaza but also other countries that may have been affected by the situation in Gaza," he said.

According to the latest data by the Foreign Ministry in October, 1,200 Indonesian contingents are deployed within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, in south Lebanon along its border with Israel.

NABIILA AZZAHRA A. | AL JAZEERA

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