Al-Rahi from the South: We want peace

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Thursday kicked off a solidarity visit to clashes-hit south Lebanon by praying at the Our Lady of the Seas Cathedral in the city of Tyre.

“The war is not limited to Gaza and we fear its expansion,” al-Rahi said.

“We want peace and we will visit the Muslim and Christian leaders in the city to tell the southerners that we are with them and by their side,” the patriarch added.

Al-Rahi met at the cathedral’s fellowship hall with a number of dignitaries, including MPs Ali Khreis, Michel Moussa, Enaya Ezzeddine, Hassan Ezzeddine and Hussein Jishi. Muslim and Christian spiritual leaders and delegations from UNIFIL, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement were also present at the meeting.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the frontier between Lebanon and Israel has seen intensifying exchanges of fire, mainly between Israel and Hezbollah, but also Palestinian groups.

More than 110 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, mostly Hezbollah fighters and more than a dozen civilians, according to an AFP tally, since fighting began in October. On the Israeli side, six soldiers and three civilians have been killed, Israeli authorities have said.