Two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed Monday by a roadside explosion in southern Lebanon, according to UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix. A third peacekeeper suffered severe injuries.
The blast occurred near Bani Hayyan and destroyed the peacekeepers' vehicle. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon attributes the explosion to unknown origins.
This marks the second fatal incident in 24 hours. Another Indonesian peacekeeper died Sunday when a projectile exploded in Adchit Al Qusayr.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the Bani Hayyan explosion wasn't caused by Israeli activity. No IDF troops were present in the area.
Israel announced increased ground and air operations against Hezbollah following rocket attacks from the Iranian-backed militia. Four Israeli soldiers were killed in separate combat operations Tuesday.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Monday incident likely involved an IED, while Sunday's blast probably resulted from an explosive landing near the Indonesian positions.
The 1978-established UNIFIL mission serves as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon along the Blue Line border. Approximately 339 peacekeepers have died since the mission's inception despite a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since the ceasefire began, Lebanon's health ministry reports 1,268 deaths including 124 children.