Indonesia confirms a UN peacekeeper was killed and three wounded in southern Lebanon, as cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies.

JAKARTA: Indonesia confirmed on Monday that one of its peacekeepers was killed in southern Lebanon.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a projectile hit one of its positions near the town of Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday.

The Indonesian foreign ministry stated “indirect artillery fire” killed one soldier and wounded three others.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, and we wish a full and swift recovery to the injured personnel,” the ministry said.

It added that Indonesia is working with UNIFIL to ensure the prompt repatriation of the fallen and medical treatment for the injured.

The ministry strongly condemned the incident and called for an investigation.

It stressed that the safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be respected “at all times”.

UNIFIL said it did not know the origin of the projectile but had launched an investigation.

The force has reported its positions being hit multiple times since the latest fighting began.

Cross-border hostilities erupted in early March after Iran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel.

The town of Adchit al Qusayr lies near Lebanon’s southern border, where Israeli forces have been battling Hezbollah for nearly a month.

On March 7, three Ghanaian soldiers serving with UNIFIL were wounded by gunfire in a separate southern border town.

 The Sun Malaysia