UNIFIL says it does not know the origin of the projectile that killed the Indonesian peacekeeper amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Published on 30 March 2026
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that one of its peacekeepers was killed in the south of the country, as fighting intensified between Israeli troops and the Hezbollah group amid the Israeli offensive.
“Last night a peacekeeper was tragically killed when a projectile exploded at a UNIFIL position near Adchit al Qusayr,” a UNIFIL statement said on Monday. “Another was seriously injured.”
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Indonesia confirmed that one of its peacekeepers was killed and three others were wounded due to “indirect artillery fire”.
The UNIFIL statement said they did not know the origin of the projectile but had launched an investigation. It said, “No one should lose their life in the service of peace.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on “all to uphold their obligations under international law and ensure the safety of UN personnel and property at all times”.
UNIFIL has reported that its positions have been attacked more than once since the latest fighting began on 2 March.
On March 7, three Ghanaian soldiers were wounded in a shooting in a border town in southern Lebanon.
‘Control will be important’
The US-Israel war on Iran spread to Lebanon after Iran-aligned Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, the first day of the war.
Previously, since the ceasefire took effect in November 2024, Hezbollah had not attacked Israel, despite almost daily violations of the agreement by Israel.
On Monday the Israeli military said six soldiers were wounded in three separate incidents, and three of them seriously.
Israeli officials say their invasion of southern Lebanon is intended to establish a security zone extending 30 km (18.6 mi) from the Israeli border.
Reporting from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr said Israeli forces have shifted from a “limited incursion” into a widespread ground offensive in southern Lebanon, aiming to seize the area up to the Litani River.
“Since last week, Israeli troops have advanced in several areas,” he said, noting the movement along the West Coast Highway and about 8 km (4.97 miles) south of Tyre, one of the main cities in southern Lebanon.
He said, “It is too early to say who will have the upper hand… but control of words will be important.” “What Hezbollah will try to do is prevent Israeli forces from consolidating control, and that will be Hezbollah’s test.”
other attacks
Meanwhile, an attack took place in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Monday, the first Israeli attack since Friday. In the live footage, a plume of smoke is seen rising from the area.
The attack came after the Israeli military warned of attacks on seven southern suburbs of the city, Haret Harik, Ghobeiri, Lailaki, Hadath and Burj al-Barjaneh, claiming it was targeting Hezbollah military sites in these areas without providing any evidence.
Israeli forces have launched air and ground attacks across Lebanon, issuing mass forced displacement orders for residents in the south, including several suburbs of Beirut.
“Many people would say there are no military targets left in the area,” Al Jazeera’s Khodar told AFP. “This is just about collective punishment and putting pressure on Hezbollah.”
More than 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes since the beginning of March, according to the United Nations, raising concerns about a growing humanitarian crisis.
