Higher Defense Council: Security Agencies Must Apprehend those behind Terrorist Attacks in Lebanon
The Higher Defense Council convened at the Baabda Palace on Friday in order to discuss the blast that took place in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday.
It said after the meeting, chaired by President Michel Suleiman: “We requested that the security agencies exert all efforts in order to apprehend those behind terrorist attacks in Lebanon.”
The council also addressed recent security developments, including last week's Israeli violation of the border in the South, as well as the case of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
The measures taken by the council to tackle the security situation will remain secret.
The Higher Defense Council meeting was attended by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, caretaker Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, caretaker Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, and a the heads of security agencies.
Suleiman has held separate talks ahead of the meeting with Miqati and head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora in an appointment that was scheduled prior to the Dahieh blast.
Prior to the Higher Defense Council meeting, Charbel revealed that the gatherers may discuss the possibility of implementing a security plan in Dahieh in order to avert future bomb attacks, reported LBCI television.
At least 21 people were killed and 200 wounded in a car bomb attack in Hizbullah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday.
The blast went off on the public road between Bir al-Abed and Ruwais.
Later on Thursday, a group calling itself the Brigades of Aisha Umm al-Moemeneen claimed the bombing in a YouTube video and threatened further attacks over Hizbullah's involvement in the fighting in Syria.
On July 9, a booby-trapped car exploded at a parking lot in Bir al-Abed, leaving 53 people wounded and causing extensive material damage.
In May, two rockets slammed into the Beirut southern suburb of Shiyyah, wounding four people.
Last week, the Lebanese army said that a group of Israeli soldiers crossed the border into the southern area of Labbouneh near Naqoura and were wounded in an explosion which reports have said was caused by a landmine.
The communique said the Israeli troops reached as far as 400 meters inside Lebanon.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah claimed in an interview on Wednesday responsibility for the blast, saying his party "will face" any further border violations by the Jewish state.
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