Political Factions Condemn Dahieh's 'Terrorist' Blast, Call for Avoiding Strife

Thursday's deadly blast in the southern suburb of Beirut drew a wave of local condemnation by political leaders that considered it "an attempt to drag Lebanon into strife."

Former premier Saad Hariri condemned the “terrorist” explosion that targeted Beirut's suburb, urging self-control and restraint to avoid falling into the “plan of Lebanon's enemies.”

“This abhorrent crime is part of a vicious terrorist scheme that aims to ignite the fire of strife and evil across Lebanon as the country is striving to dissociate itself from the regional turmoil,” Hariri said in a released statement.

He continued: “All Lebanese factions and sects cannot but condemn this terrorist crime with the strongest words and express their solidarity with the Dahieh's residents.”

"We call on the Lebanese people to be wise and exercise self-control to avoid getting dragged into strife desired by the country's enemies, and that demolishes what is left of Lebanon's unity and stability.”

Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Ali Ammar stressed after the incident that Beirut's southern suburb will not be dragged into “traps.”

“We won't allow anyone to drag Dahieh into their traps and those paving the ground for such terrorist operations must stop this behavior,” Ammar told al-Manar television.

He added: “We urge residents to show restraint after this blast and the state must act regarding the repercussions of this appalling crime.”

Former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora expressed "anger, sadness and regret" over the Dahieh blast, and voiced solidarity with the residents of the southern suburb of Beirut.

"We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and with the Dahieh's residents that are being subjected to terrorism by criminals,” Saniora said after the explosion.

The al-Mustaqbal bloc head “condemned, denounced and rejected the explosion”: “We urge security forces to intensify their investigation to identify the criminals and those behind them.”

"In these painful times we stand united in support of the innocent victims and civilians to face the criminals.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea also condemned Thursday's explosion and called concerned authorities to adopt the necessary measures to identify the assailants.

"We demand judicial and security forces to take all necessary measures to identify the attackers behind this explosion and try them in courts,” Geagea said in a released statement.

He noted: “Attacks on any Lebanese region is an attack that targets the entire nation.”

"There is no stability and no real security in Lebanon without the establishment of a state that exclusively exercises sovereignty in all Lebanese regions through its military and legal judicial bodies.”

Meanwhile, former president Amin Gemayel stated that he “stands by the families of the victims” of the Dahieh blast.

"This is not the time for political speeches,” Gemayel said in a released statement. “It is time to heal wounds.”

The Phalange Party leader called on political factions in the country to “be wise in this fragile stage and to prioritize the national interest.”

He urged committing to the Baabda Declaration and speeding in the formation of the new cabinet “to provide the political cover that would safeguard the country against the successive explosions” taking place in different Lebanese regions.

Al-Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh also commented on the blast, saying that “such incidences strengthen the stubbornness of and the ties between the resistance, its supporters and its allies in Lebanon and the region.”

The March 14 coalition released a brief statement condemning Beirut's explosion, offering their condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the wounded a "quick recovery."

At least 14 people were killed and 212 others wounded in a car bombing that rocked Hizbullah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday afternoon.

The blast went off on the public road between Bir al-Abed and Ruwais, according to several television channels.

A group calling itself the Brigades of Aisha Umm al-Moemeneen has claimed the Dahieh blast in a YouTube video

Caretaker Prime Minister Miqati announced that Friday will be a day of national mourning and revealed that the Higher Defense Council will be convening over the explosion.