Al-Rahi from Baalbek: We Must All Cooperate to Cut Off Hand of Terrorism

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said Wednesday that all Lebanese must cooperate to “cut off the hand of terrorism” during a visit to Baalbek and several Bekaa towns.

“We consider this visit as a completion of our condolences visit to al-Qaa, in light of what we heard from our people regarding their fear for their future and their need for reassurances and for the presence of the army that is defending this front,” said al-Rahi at the Baalbek Maronite archbishopric.

“We came here today to say that the region's Christian and Muslim residents are united in their efforts to preserve the country and its security and coexist together in dignity,” he added.

“This region is the shield of the country... Terror sought to turn it into a gateway into the country... and this requires us all to cooperate in order to be a firm bulwark, to cut off the hand of terrorism, and to confront all the attempts seeking to import terrorism into Lebanon,” the patriarch urged.

He noted that Lebanon “is the only country in this Middle East that is still steadfast (in the face of terrorism) due to the resolve of its people, who want to preserve their existence despite everything, especially as Christians who have inhabited this land for 2,000 years now.”

“What makes Lebanon a special country in this Levant is our culture and we are keen on the persistence of this culture which was jointly built by Christians and Muslims in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan and the Levant, and we cannot leave our land to Daesh (Islamic State group), al-Qaida, the terrorist organizations or the mercenaries who are coming from all over the world,” al-Rahi added.

He also said that he explored with the region's municipal chiefs and dignitaries means to “show solidarity with the all the security and military agencies” in order to “safeguard security in the region.”

Al-Rahi's visit also involved meetings at the Deir al-Ahmar Maronite archbishopric and the Baalbek Greek Catholic archbishopric.

Al-Qaa is a predominantly Christian town nestled in a hilly border area that has been shaken by violence since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011.

Four suicide bombers hit the town before dawn on June 27 and another four suicide bombers carried out an evening attack, killing five people and wounding 28 others.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said the bombers came from the Islamic State group's bastion in the Syrian province of Raqa while Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said that they came from the IS posts in the outskirts of the nearby border town of Arsal.

Lebanon's army has fought off jihadist factions along the frontier and has sought to clamp down on local cells operating in the area.

In August 2014, the army fought deadly battles in and around the town of Arsal with militants from the IS and al-Nusra Front, which has recently changed its name to Fateh al-Sham Front after announcing a break of ties with al-Qaida.