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.