PAPUA — An Indonesian military armed operation taking place from July 19 to July 30, 2026, in the Korowai area, bordering Yahukimo, Boven Digoel, and Pegunungan Bintang Regencies, reportedly killed three civilians and forced hundreds of residents to flee.

​The air and ground operation involving drones and more than three military helicopter units was a response to the shooting of pilot Nicholas F. Goselin by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Defense Regional Command (Kodap) XVI Yahukimo on July 2, 2026, after his flight crossed the red zone.

​Airstrikes and ground troop deployments targeted resident settlements in the Korowai border area.

​"Indonesian military operations launched from July 19 to July 30, 2026, in Korowai using drones and more than three military helicopter units launched air attacks on civilian residential areas," said Sebby Sambom, Thursday (30/7/2026).

​Three civilians identified as deceased in the attack were Yatimin Y.B. Wonda, Wanenga Kogoya, and one other civilian who has not been identified.

​A number of residents were reported injured and dozens of others remain missing following military troop movements in residential areas.

​Hundreds of civilians, including vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly, were forced to flee to forest areas and hinterlands in Yahukimo and Pegunungan Bintang.

​TPNPB urged President Prabowo Subianto, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Agus Subyanto to halt military operations in residential zones.

​TPNPB also stated readiness to engage in open combat directly at military headquarters locations if operations continue, without sacrificing non-combatant residents.

​The Indonesian government was requested to take full responsibility for the human crisis impacts and civilian casualties in the Korowai region.

​The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) along with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were urged to immediately dispatch humanitarian aid teams to displacement locations.

​Overall, prolonged armed conflict in Papua is estimated to have forced more than 122,931 civilians to flee their areas of origin.

​TPNPB encouraged the United Nations (UN) to facilitate the deployment of an independent investigation team through the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to resolve the humanitarian conflict lasting for more than five decades in Papua. (One Papua)