BEIRUT: Lebanese officials and political figures from across the spectrum Thursday condemned the killing of at least 20 Druze villagers by Nusra Front militants in northwest Syria one day earlier.
“This brutal crime that killed dozens of people from the Druze sect... forms an outrageous assault on a main component of the brotherly Syrian people,” Prime Minister Tammam Salam said in a statement condemning the “massacre."
On Wednesday, at least 20 Druze men and women were killed by militants from Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the village of Qalb Lawzah, inIdlib province. Some media reports said the number was as high as 40.
“It proved once again the brutality of the dark forces violating all sanctities and giving no importance to humanitarian considerations."
Salam said the killings by “the takfiri factions” aimed at inciting strife between the people of one nation, and attacking Syria’s unity and its national cohesion.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri offered his condolences to the victims of Wednesday’s killings in a phone call with Druze spiritual leader in Lebanon Naim Hassan.
Hassan, who thanked Berri for his message, underlined the importance of avoiding violence, according to a statement by his media office.
Druze politicians were split in their approach to the killings.
Tawhid party chief Wiam Wahhab called for forming an armed Druze faction of 200,000 fighters to combat the Nusra Front and other groups threatening Syria’s Druze.