JAKARTA, Aug 18 (Bernama-ANTARA): The Indonesian Defence Force (TNI) has successfully carried out humanitarian air drops for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, coinciding with the occasion of Indonesia's 80th Independence Anniversary.
"The success will be recorded in our history books and is a special present on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia," Defence Ministry's Defence Information Bureau Chief, Brigadier General Frega Wenas, stated here on Monday, reported ANTARA news agency.
The operation was conducted by the TNI's "Garuda Merah Putih II" Task Force with two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft that carried 800 tonnes of logistics, comprising food, medicines, and clothing.
The C-130 military planes took off from King Abdullah II Air Base in Amman, Jordan, at 10:37 am local time, heading southwest to Gaza. The information bureau head stated that the aid was dropped at 10 points in Gaza deemed safe for the drop.
"After conducting the airdrop, the two planes landed safely at the airbase at 12:25 Jordan time," Wenas said.
He stated that the airdrop was conducted through collaboration between the TNI, the Foreign Ministry, and the Indonesian Alms Agency (Baznas).
Meanwhile, "Garuda Merah Putih II" Task Force Commander Colonel Puguh Yulianto stated that the airdrop mission was successfully completed.
He said that the mission was carried out under direct order from President Prabowo Subianto and reflected Indonesia's commitment to upholding international humanitarian solidarity.
"The success of this humanitarian mission on the occasion of Indonesia's independence not only became national pride but also proved Indonesia's contributions to global peace," Yulianto remarked. -- BERNAMA-ANTARA
