Al-Rahi Voices Sorrow over Attack against Army, Calls on State to Fasten Grip on Security

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed deep grief on Sunday over suicide attack that targeted an army checkpoint in the eastern border town of Arsal, calling on the state to put an end to impunity for the offenders.

“We are saddened by the assault against the people of the (northern city of) Tripoli and the Lebanese army in the Bekaa,” al-Rahi said during his sermon at Our Lady of Lebanon basilica in Harissa.

He lamented the attacks against the army and security forces “carried out by groups that don't believe in humanity,” expressing regret over the political cover up for them.

On Saturday evening, three Lebanese soldiers were killed and four others wounded following a suicide attack near a military checkpoint in the area of Wadi Ata in Arsal.

An explosive-rigged vehicle exploded as it drove past a recently erected military checkpoint in the area.

The "Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade” claimed the suicide explosion, considering it a retaliation to the killing of fugitive Sami Ahmed al-Atrash.

Al-Rahi urged the Lebanese government to fasten its grip on the security plan that was established by the Higher Defense Council to detain criminals and those who support them.

The cabinet approved on Thursday the recommendations of the Higher Defense Council on a security plan in Tripoli and Bekaa valley's northern areas.

Tripoli witnesses frequent gunbattles between two of the city's impoverished rival neighborhoods, one dominated by Sunnis who support Syrian rebels, and the other by Alawites, who are from the same sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Clashes in Tripoli have left scores of casualties over the past days alone.

Border areas also come under rocket attacks and shelling from Syria and have witnessed abductions in return for ransom and other security incidents.