Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi condemned on Sunday the recent clash in the Bekaa town of Arsal that left two army officers dead.

He said during his Sunday sermon: “We hold political powers responsible for their deaths due to their covering up of such assaults against the army and security forces.” Furthermore, he added: “They are the victims of the so-called consensual security being imposed in Lebanon.” Two officers were killed on Friday in Arsal as the army was attempting to apprehend a wanted suspect, who was also killed in the clashes. The patriarch therefore called for fortifying the internal security scene “by eliminating the possession of illegal arms and the phenomenon of consensual security.” [Link]