BEIRUT: U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly Monday voiced concern over the deteriorating security in Lebanon linked to the three-year crisis in Syria.
“[He] expressed concern at incidents of violence in Tripoli, north Lebanon, and in areas of eastern Lebanon during the past few days, which have led to tragic loss of life, both among civilians and the Lebanese Armed Forces,” a statement from his office said.
Plumbly also deplored Sunday’s suicide car bombing in the east Lebanon town of Nabi Othman that killed three people.
The U.N. official extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Lebanon has been reeling under the impact of the Syrian war with more than a dozen car bombings and rocket attacks across the country. Many of the attacks have been claimed by radical Islamist groups, citing Hezbollah’s military intervention in Syria.
The U.N. official said the recurrence of “such indiscriminate acts of violence should serve as further encouragement for all Lebanese to rally around state institutions, particularly the army and the security forces, as they work to protect Lebanon from the impact of the crisis in neighboring Syria.”
He also welcomed the formation of a new government under Prime Minister Tammam Salam and the recent agreement over its policy statement, describing them “as important steps towards reinforcing Lebanon’s institutions in the face of the numerous challenges confronting the country including at the security level.”
Plumbly reiterated the U.N.’s readiness to stand by Lebanese authorities and expressed hope those responsible for recent acts of violence would be brought to justice as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut condemned Sunday's suicide car bombing.
On its Twitter feed, the embassy renewed its call for insulating Lebanon from the violence in Syria, calling on all parties to respect the policy of disassociation and "abstain from acts that endanger Lebanon’s stability and security."
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