Israel’s Merkava Tank Fired Projectile That Killed Indonesian UNIFIL Peacekeeper Rico Pramudia in Beirut

A sixth UN peacekeeper death in Lebanon’s recent hostilities was confirmed after an Indonesian soldier, Corporal Rico Pramudia, died in a Beirut hospital from wounds sustained in an attack on his UNIFIL base on the night of March 29.

“Toggle Play Indonesian UN peacekeeper becomes sixth killed in Lebanon An Indonesian soldier has become the sixth UN peacekeeper killed in recent hostilities in southern Lebanon”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera said Pramudia “died in a Beirut hospital after being critically wounded when a projectile hit his UNIFIL position last month,” and it identified him as “the sixth UN peacekeeper killed in recent hostilities in southern Lebanon.”

Al Jazeera

France 24 likewise reported that “the UN mission in Lebanon said Friday that an Indonesian peacekeeper has died from wounds sustained in a March 29 attack on his base,” while Arab News said UNIFIL announced that “an Indonesian blue helmet died in hospital of wounds suffered on March 29 in an attack on his base.”

UN News added that Pramudia “passed away from his wounds at a hospital in Beirut,” and it specified his age as “aged 31.”

Multiple outlets tied the death to the same March 29 incident at the base in Adchit Al-Qusayr, with Arab News stating it was “following a projectile explosion in his base in Adchit Al-Qusayr on the night of 29 March.”

The UN News account also said initial results of UNIFIL investigations indicated the projectile was fired from a Merkava tank belonging to the Israeli army, linking the fatal injury to that source of fire.

The fatal injuries were traced to a projectile explosion at Pramudia’s UNIFIL base in Adchit Al-Qusayr on the night of March 29, according to UNIFIL and multiple reports.

Arab News quoted UNIFIL’s statement: “UNIFIL deplores the passing today of Corporal Rico Pramudia, who was critically injured following a projectile explosion in his base in Adchit Al-Qusayr on the night of 29 March,” and it said the death “brings to six the number of peacekeepers killed since the start of the most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2.”

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UN News similarly described “an explosion of a projectile at his base in the town of Adaisseh al-Qasheer on the night of March 29,” and it named the projectile as coming from “a Merkava tank belonging to the Israeli army.”

Middle East Monitor, citing Anadolu, described the same incident as a “projectile explosion” at a base in “Adchit al-Qusayr” on “the night of March 29,” and it said Pramudia “was critically injured” before dying in a Beirut hospital.

That Anadolu-linked account also said the “latest casualty brings the number of Indonesian peacekeepers killed in the ongoing conflict to four,” while UN News said “Six UN peacekeepers with UNIFIL have been killed and several others injured in incidents recently amid the hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.”

The UN News report placed the death within a wider pattern of recent incidents, stating that “the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UNIFIL mission extended their deepest condolences” and that the UN urged “all parties to fulfill their obligations under international law.”

Indonesia condemned the killing and reiterated its call for a UN probe after Pramudia’s death, framing the attack as a violation of international law.

“An Indonesian soldier, Corporal Rico Pramudia, has been killed in Lebanon, the sixth UN peacekeeper to die in the hostilities”

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Middle East Monitor, citing Anadolu, quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahd Naby saying, “Indonesia once again condemns the attack by Israel that resulted in the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper,” and it added, “Any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and may amount to a war crime.”

The same account said Indonesia “reiterates its call for the UN to do an “immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation” to establish the facts, and stresses that full accountability must be ensured.”

It also quoted Naby on the non-negotiable nature of protection for UN personnel, stating, “Safety and security of the UN peacekeepers is not negotiable.”

Middle East Monitor further described Indonesia’s coordination efforts, saying the government “continues its coordination with the United Nations and other troop- and police-contributing countries to strengthen the protection of peacekeepers,” including “through a comprehensive evaluation of their safety and security, as well as enhanced risk mitigation measures in UNIFIL’s area of operations.”

Another outlet, Al Khaleej (الخليج), reported that Indonesia “once again and strongly condemned an Israeli attack that killed a fourth Indonesian UN peacekeeper in Lebanon” and urged the UN to conduct a “thorough and transparent investigation.”

The death was reported against a backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and a ceasefire timeline that had been extended.

Middle East Monitor said the conflict context included Israel “pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in the south since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2,” and it added that “The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on Feb. 28.”

UN News

It also stated that “On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been extended by three weeks following ambassador-level talks at the White House,” and it described the US-brokered “10-day ceasefire” that “took effect April 16” and “had been set to expire Sunday.”

Arab News said “A ceasefire has been in effect since April 17,” and it placed the March 29 attack within the “most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2.”

Middle East Monitor also described the scale of the broader conflict, stating that “Since March 2, expanded Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,200 people and displaced over 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.”

In parallel, Crypto Briefing discussed a “June 30 ceasefire” market, noting “Six dead peacekeepers point to a volatile, fragile situation on the ground.”

UNIFIL and UN officials described the investigation and urged compliance with international law, while other reports added details about earlier incidents and blame assignments.

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Middle East Monitor

UN News said “Initial results of UNIFIL's investigations indicated that the projectile was fired from a Merkava tank belonging to the Israeli army,” and it quoted the UN’s legal framing: “The United Nations, in a statement by its spokesperson, urged all parties to fulfill their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and their property at all times.”

Al-Khaleej

It also stated that “The UN said deliberate attacks on peacekeeping forces constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes.”

Arab News added that UNIFIL’s preliminary investigation found the soldier “was killed by an Israeli tank shell,” and it said that “The following day, two more Indonesian blue helmets were killed by an improvised explosive device,” with “The same UN investigation found that Hezbollah was likely responsible.”

Middle East Monitor described Indonesia’s coordination after the attack, saying “through “close and intensive” coordination with UNIFIL, the Indonesian government, the Lebanese government, and medical teams in Beirut ensured that immediate and optimum medical treatment was provided,” before stating that “due to the severity of Pramudia’s injuries, he passed away despite all efforts to save his life.”

France 24 reported that French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to “intensify its efforts” to help restore stability in the Middle East while arriving at an EU summit in Cyprus, and it identified the UN mission’s announcement of Pramudia’s death.