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U.N. Probe Points to Israeli Tank Round and Hezbollah IED in Indonesia Peacekeeper Deaths

The findings set up potential war crimes cases that could intensify diplomatic pressure.

Overview

  • The United Nations, which released preliminary findings Tuesday, said one Indonesian peacekeeper died from an Israeli tank projectile and two from an improvised explosive device most likely placed by Hezbollah.
  • In the March 29 incident, investigators identified a 120 mm round fired from an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank from the east near a UNIFIL position whose coordinates had been relayed to Israel twice in the preceding days.
  • The March 30 blast that destroyed a UNIFIL vehicle was caused by an IED that the probe assessed was most likely planted by Hezbollah, killing two Indonesians and injuring two others.
  • The U.N. called the killings unacceptable, said they could amount to war crimes under international law, and asked national authorities to investigate and prosecute while a fuller U.N. inquiry continues.
  • Indonesia said it received the report, urged accountability in letters to the U.N. Security Council and the Secretary‑General, and signaled careful review of its troop deployments, as UNIFIL reported a recent Israeli roadblock of a logistics convoy and a brief detention of a peacekeeper.