Al-Rahi Visits Blasts-Hit Jabal Mohsen, Calls for 'Rising Above Wounds'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday visited the Tripoli district of Jabal Mohsen to offer condolences to the families of the victims of the recent suicide bombing that killed nine people at a packed cafe.

“We came here to thank you for the beacon of tolerance and entire Lebanon appreciates you for dousing the flames of vengeance,” said al-Rahi.

“It is unacceptable that Tripoli has become the city of poverty and development projects must be implemented in the city to end the deprivation of all its sons,” he added.

The two suicide bombers who carried out the deadly attack have been identified as Taha al-Khayyal and Bilal al-Meraayan, both residents of the adjacent al-Mankoubeen district.

The twin suicide bombing was swiftly claimed by al-Qaida's Syria branch, al-Nusra Front, but Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq has said that the Islamic State group was behind the attack.

“Let us consider our diversity as a value and we can only have an honorable life through the army and security forces,” said al-Rahi from the neighborhood that is still reeling from the blasts.

“We must rise above the wounds and seek the welfare of the country and the state must shoulder its responsibility regarding balanced development,” the patriarch added.

He also saluted the servicemen who were taken hostage from Bekaa's Arsal in early August at the hands of al-Nusra and the IS, hoping the government's efforts “will succeed for the sake of the country and the military institution.”

Y.R.