UNIFIL recovers bodies of killed soldiers, UNSC to meet over incidents

BEIRUT — The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recovered Tuesday morning the bodies of two Indonesian peacekeepers who were killed a day earlier "in an explosion of unknown origin" on the road linking Markaba and Beni Hayan (Marjayoun district), according to the force and L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South.

The bodies had not been retrieved earlier due to a lack of security guarantees in the area, where the Israeli army continues its offensive and invasion of southern Lebanon amid fighting with Hezbollah.

The international community condemned the deaths of the two peacekeepers and that of a third Indonesian soldier killed on Sunday, a few kilometers further north.

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The United Nations Security Council is due to meet later Tuesday to discuss the incidents.

UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told L’Orient Today that “the bodies of the two peacekeepers tragically killed have been recovered.” She added that “the nature and origin of the explosion that caused their deaths are under investigation.”

This comes after a March 6 Israeli attack on a U.N. position in southern Lebanon, injuring Ghanaian peacekeepers.

The Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) at France's request.

“All parties to the conflict are strongly urged to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel,” Jakarta's Defense Ministry said in a statement. The Israeli army said it is also investigating the incidents, urging against “presuming” its responsibility.

For its part, the European Union condemned the attacks as “absolutely unacceptable.” A spokesperson for the European Commission, Anwar al-Anouni, called for “a thorough investigation to shed light on these serious attacks,” describing them as a “serious violation of international law.”

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In a show of support for UNIFIL, French junior defense minister Alice Rufo is expected in Lebanon on Tuesday. The visit aims to demonstrate Paris’ support for “Lebanese sovereignty” and solidarity with the peacekeeping force, according to a Defense Ministry statement.

During Rufo's visit to Beirut, she is scheduled to meet Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defense Minister Michel Menassah. She will also deliver 39 armored personnel carriers (VAB) to the Lebanese Army at Beirut port.

Rufo is also expected to lay a wreath at the memorial wall at the Residence des Pins in tribute to the 58 French soldiers killed in the Oct. 23, 1983, Drakkar bombing.

Since March 2, Israeli attacks across Lebanon killed 1,247 people and injured 3,680 others, according to the Health Ministry.