Local Leaders Condemn Thursday's Blast: Hariri Says Dahieh Victim of Terrorism, Jumblat Urges Cabinet Formation

The deadly explosion that hit Beirut's southern neighborhood of Haret Hreik on Thursday afternoon drew a wave of condemnation by local political leaders that considered that terrorism is targeting all Lebanese people.

The blast killed at least 4 people and wounded 75 others.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said terrorism that is targeting civilians, innocents and civilian areas is a criminal behavior that is devoid of any human feelings and can certainly be described as "satanic deeds."

"Lebanese people are paying the price in blood and these incidents are always deplored and condemned,” Hariri said in a released statement.

"Innocent people in Dahieh are victims of criminal and terrorist acts that have been targeting them for months, and at the same time they are victims of the involvement in foreign wars, especially in the war in Syria,” he added.

"Neither the Lebanese nor Dahieh's residents have any interest in covering or participating in Syria's conflict.”

He, however, considered that this is an opportunity to call again for neutralizing Lebanon from regional conflicts.

"This is a basic requirement to preserve national stability.”

He said: “Insisting on involving Lebanon in regional turmoil is dangerous and it encourages acts of terrorism in our cities and towns.”

"It is about time for all officials and politicians to be aware of this truth and that the only way to protect Lebanon is through preserving national unity and respecting the state and its institutions' legitimacy.”

Ex-PM Fouad Saniora also condemned Dahieh's blast in the southern suburbs of Beirut, calling upon everyone in the country to “think and seek ways to exit this tunnel.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat told al-Jazeera television that a new cabinet must be formed to attempt achieving the withdrawal of Lebanese fighters from Syria and neutralize Lebanon from the neighboring country's war.

“If we wanted to preserve Lebanon, we must do something,” he said.

“Our experience must oblige us to sit around the dialogue table as terrorism does not discriminate between one person and another,” he later told al-Manar television.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea also condemned the "terrorist and criminal" blast, saying "it's about time political leaders rose above (selfishness) and shouldered their responsibilities towards God, the country and the people, as the situation has become totally unacceptable."

He expressed that the solution would be in reviving the political life in the country and abiding by the constitution and the laws to strengthen the state, its administrative bodies and its armed forces.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said the bombings that targeted several regions in Lebanon aim at promoting sedition at the expense of wisdom.

"Everyone is targeted and is put in a situation where they want to defend themselves,” he pointed out. “This is a justification used to explain all explosions.”

"We call on everyone, officials and civilians alike, to face this horrible situation.”

He then urged political leaders not to adopt any arbitrary steps that “might worsen the current situation and violate the constitution.”

Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Hasan Fadlallah assured that the blast occurred in an area that is relatively far from Hizbullah's political bureau.

Thursday's booby-trapped car exploded near al-Manar television's old building on al-Arid Street in Haret Hreik. The bombing occurred hundreds of meters away from the headquarters of Hizbullah's political bureau, al-Manar said, after media reports said the blast went off near the HQ.

“This type of terrorism is targeting entire Lebanon, from Beirut to the Bekaa, the North and the South,” Fadlallah added.

Meanwhile, March 14 general-secretariat coordinator Fares Soaid expressed that the repercussions of what is happening in Syria and Iraq are affecting all the Lebanese.

“And this is why we asked for an immediate withdrawal from Syria,” he told al-Arabiya television.

He then noted: “But today, I only say that we stand beside the families of the victims and the wounded and we repeat our condemnation. We must stand united today.”

The March 14 coalition later issued a statement calling for solidarity in Lebanon and urging Hizbullah to put an end to its involvement in Syria, to protect Lebanon and to prevent terrorism from hitting the country again.

Caretaker Interior Minister told LBCI that dealing with terrorism is achieved through dialogue between different Lebanese factions, and cannot be a matter handled by security forces only.

"There are security breaches in all countries of the world,” he remarked.

Also considering that dialogue is the solution to the current political crisis in the country was Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel.

“The only way to respond to these acts is through reaching an understanding among each others. There is a need to meet and hold dialogue over an urgent plan to address the current situations in our country,” he told LBCI.

March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh, meanwhile, urged Hizbullah to “return to Lebanon and end its private wars.”

MP Talal Arslan, the Lebanese Democratic Party leader, warned that “it's about time everyone realized the magnitude of the conspiracy that is targeted all the Lebanese without exception.”

He also called for “putting an end to all baseless political accusations that open the door to all forms of terrorism.”

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani considered the explosion “another terrorist message” whose price the Lebanese are paying because of their disagreements.

He warned: “Terrorism is targeting everyone and is moving from one region to another.”

"Sedition must be stopped by forming a national unity cabinet and holding dialogue between all factions.”

"Political stability reflects positively on Lebanon,” he explained.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, as well, deplored Dahieh's explosions and “all acts of killings, destruction, and terrorizing that are used to incite strife among the people of this country.”

"We urge both feuding political camps to communicate immediately and adopt responsible and brave decisions to safeguard Lebanon from miseries that evil is leaving behind.”

The blast came less than a week after a car bombing targeted Beirut's central district on Friday, killing former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and seven others.

A twin suicide bombing hit the Iranian embassy in south Beirut on November 19, killing 25 people.

In the summer, the southern suburbs suffered two bomb attacks. One, on August 15, killed 27 people. A blast earlier in August had caused no fatalities but wounded some 50 people.