Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The body of an Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) Marine who was killed in an ambush laid by armed separatists in Nduga district, Papua, on Saturday (March 26, 2022) has been flown to Southeast Sulawesi.
The body of First Lieutenant Muhammad Iqbal, promoted posthumously, was flown on a Lion Air JT 3763 aircraft, which took off from Timika, Papua, for Makassar, South Sulawesi, at 11:35 a.m. local time (UTC +9) on Monday, according to an official.
"The body is flown aboard Lion Air JT3763 from Timika, Papua today and will transit in Makassar," Kendari's Haluoleo Airport Port Safety Agency coordinator Dr. Waode Umi Mazidah informed over the phone in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
"The aircraft will land at 3:45 p.m. local time (UTC +8) (on Monday) in Kendari (Haluoleo Airport)," she added.
First Lieutenant Muhammad Iqbal was a native of Anggotoa village, Wawotobi sub-district, Konawe district, Southeast Sulawesi, the coordinator said.
Iqbal, who was born on November 26, 1994, was reportedly killed in an ambush laid by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group at 5:45 p.m. local time (UTC +9) on Saturday. The separatists bombarded Mupe Task Force Post in Kwareh Bawah, where Iqbal was stationed, by launching grenades from two directions.
Besides Iqbal, another TNI officer, Private Marine Wilson Anderson of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, was killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, eight Marines were injured in the attack. They were evacuated to a Marines post in Kenyam, Nduga district.
As observed by ANTARA, condolence wreaths were placed alongside the road leading to Iqbal's home in Anggotoa village on Monday. Military officials, including the Indonesian Marines and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, General Dudung Abdurrahman, as well as North Konawe District head, Konawe Legislature head, and other figures, presented their condolence wreaths for Iqbal.
