JAKARTA - Indonesia has condemned Israeli military escalation in Lebanon as a serious violation of international humanitarian law while confirming that its Garuda Contingent peacekeeping troops will not be withdrawn from the country.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry issued a written statement on Saturday, March 14, after Israeli strikes hit two separate UN Interim Force in Lebanon positions within a week. 

“Indonesia calls on all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, to halt attacks endangering civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to return to dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further escalation and achieve peace,” the Foreign Ministry said. 

On March 6, two missile attacks struck the Ghanaian battalion’s headquarters in Al Qawzah in southwestern Lebanon, injuring at least one Ghanaian peacekeeper critically and burning the officers’ mess facility to the ground. Irish Defence Forces personnel in the area conducted emergency casualty evacuations. 

Then, on March 13, Israeli shells landed inside the Nepalese battalion’s compound in Mays al-Jabal, destroying a shelter and sparking a fire; Nepalese troops had taken cover in underground bunkers and reported no injuries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Beirut on a solidarity visit the same day.

“The Indonesian government expresses its appreciation for the integrity, professionalism and dedication of the Garuda Contingent serving alongside the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in carrying out its mandate to maintain stability and peace in southern Lebanon, and hopes that all Garuda Contingent members will be kept safe in the line of duty,” Indonesia’s statement concluded.

Indonesia dispatched its current contingent of 1,090 soldiers to Lebanon on April 9, 2025, under the command of Colonel Raja Gunung Nasution, as part of its 19th rotation to the mission since 2006. The force is mandated through December 31, 2026. 

The Lebanon escalation is a secondary front of the wider regional conflict that began February 28 when the United States and Israel struck Iran. Hezbollah launched retaliatory strikes on Israeli military targets on March 2, and Israel hit Beirut’s southern suburbs the same day before crossing the Lebanese border the following morning.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon currently fields approximately 7,500 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries, down from over 10,500 at the start of 2025 following UN budget cuts and a planned drawdown before the mission's scheduled end.

The rising tensions in the Middle East are increasing risks for millions of migrant workers in Gulf countries, where foreign labor makes up a large share of the population and workforce. At least 35 million migrant workers live across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.