Maronite Bishops Call for Supporting Army, Security Forces to Help them Maintain Stability

The Maronite bishops council hailed on Wednesday the army and security forces for their efforts in confronting the various security incidents that have taken place in Lebanon in recent months.

It said: “We call on the people to respect and support the army through all possible means in order to allow it to perform its duties.”

The council made its remarks after its monthly meeting chaired by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at the Patriarchate's summer headquarters in Diman.

“The army is bravely dealing with various security incidents and making sacrifices for Lebanon,” it added, while calling on the people to help put an end to the spread of weapons in Lebanon.

Addressing the government formation efforts, the bishops voiced their concern over the political deadlock caused the disputes between the rival parties, demanding that they put aside their differences, reach reconciliation, and form a cabinet capable of tackling the people's affairs.

“The new government should tackle the country's problems, distance Lebanon from regional conflicts, and devise a new parliamentary electoral law to hold the elections as soon as possible,” it stressed.

“We call on officials to return to national dialogue in order to reconcile and restore communication between them,” it suggested.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji had vowed on the occasion of Army Day last week that the military will not bow to difficulties, saying that it “is working day and night to improve its competence to confront any emergency.”

Later that day, two rockets were fired in the Baabda area with one landing in the garden of the Freiha villa that is located near the Officers' Club.