Al-Rahi Tours Bekaa Villages, Offers Condolences to Families of Executed Servicemen
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi toured on Sunday several Bekaa towns to offer his condolences to the families of Arsal captives, who were executed by Islamist gunmen recently.
“We have to preserve coexistence and rise above crimes and conspiracies,” al-Rahi said from the residence of Mohammed Hamiyeh, who was executed by the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front in September, in the village of Talia in the Bekaa.
Al-Rahi stressed that he Lebanese have to grant their full support to the army and the security agencies “that protect us and maintain our security.”
“Despite all the difficulties we are passing through in Lebanon a divine hand is protecting us as if we are living a miracle.”
Four captives have been executed so far, two by al-Nusra Front and the others by the Islamic State group, and the jihadists have threatened to kill the remaining hostages unless there is a deal to free Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.
IS and Nusra militants briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in early August.
Sixteen policemen and soldiers are still being held by al-Nusra, and nine by IS.
Al-Rahi then headed to the town of Bazzaliyeh to offer condolences to the family of slain hostage Ali al-Bazzal, who was executed in December by al-Nusra Front.
“We are responsible for the blood of martyrs who have fallen on the altar of the homeland,” the patriarch stressed.
He expressed belief in the “Christian-Muslim unity and cooperation in order to form one Lebanese weave.”
Al-Rahi later deplored the security breaches in the Bekaa, saying: “It's a shame that the area became a loose ground for aggressors.”
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