Al-Rahi Urges Officials to 'Spare Lebanon More Tragedies' after al-Qaa Blasts

W460

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged unity in the wake of the deadly suicide blasts that rocked the eastern border town of al-Qaa, calling on Lebanese officials to “spare Lebanon more tragedies.”

On a pastoral visit to the United States, the patriarch expressed his “extreme sorrow over the bombings that the hand of terror carried out once again on Lebanon's soil and in the dear town of al-Qaa.”

“It is a town of peace, love and coexistence and its sons have once again rescued the lives of a lot of innocents,” he added.

Calling on citizens to “return to their national unity and solidarity to confront the terrorist schemes that are being plotted against Lebanon,” al-Rahi urged Lebanese officials to “shoulder their national responsibilities in order to spare Lebanon more tragedies.”

The patriarch also saluted the army and the security forces, urging “further support for them at all levels.”

Al-Qaa is a predominantly Christian village nestled in a hilly border area that has been shaken by violence since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011.

At least four suicide bombers hit the village before dawn, a military source has said.

"The first attacker knocked on one of the homes in the village, but after the resident became suspicious, he blew himself up," the source said.

He said three other suicide attackers detonated their own explosives as people began gathering to treat the wounded. The site of the blasts lies on a main road linking the Syrian town of al-Qusayr to Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley.

Lebanon's army has fought off jihadist factions along the frontier and has sought to clamp down on local cells operating in the area.

In August 2014, the army clashed with militants from the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front, al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria, in the border town of Arsal.

Y.R.

Comments 1
Thumb popeye 28 June 2016, 07:53

probably yes. He has nothing to do except tourism.