Four citizens were killed in an armed ambush in Ersal’s barren mountains on Sunday, when militants attacked young men who were fixing their broken car in the area, killed them, and stole their possessions.

Four citizens were killed in an armed ambush in Ersal’s barren mountains on Sunday, when militants attacked young men who were fixing their broken car in the area, killed them, and stole their possessions.

The Lebanese Army and officials in the region called on citizens to have self-control, while a statement issued in the name of citizens of Ersal denied having anything to do with the crime.

Tensions emerged as a result in Baalbek-Hermel, and several roads where cut, as militants deployed in towns of the region.

For its part, the Army leadership said in a statement that Army units patrolled the area established checkpoints, and are still performing their duties to restore stability.

The statement further called upon Bekaa citizens and families to “overcome wounds and have self-control and patience in this critical situation which the country is passing through,” stressing that it will "not allow anyone to take advantage of this painful situation to strike national unity and destroy the basics of coexistence between people of the same society."

For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told As-Safir daily that “most importantly, we should not rush in making judgments because some parts are trying to create Sunni-Shiite tensions.”

Ersal Citizens Statement

In this context, Ersal citizens issued a statement in which they denied having anything to do with this cowardly act which was committed by a criminal gang that wants to create tension between people of the same region.

The statement emphasized on Baalbek Mufti Baker Al-Rifai's words that Ersal citizens, Jaafar kin, Amhaz kin, and all the kins in the region are one family, and demanded the Lebanese Army to perform its full duty.

Hezbollah and Amal Movement Call for Wisdom

In parallel, Hezbollah and Amal movement leaderships issued a joint statement in which they condemned the crime that left four citizens dead in Bekaa, east Lebanon.

The statement indicated that “this crime comes in the context of a series of crimes some mercenaries, who work on igniting tension in the region under fake pretexts and titles, commit,” and held all “instigators who stand behind the criminals” the responsibility.

The joint statement called upon “reasonable and wise citizens” to avoid being dragged to any reaction which would result in an internal fight and serve the bettors and enemies, adding that “MPs in the region consider that the state’s slackness in this field push towards sedition.”

Hezbollah and Amal movement demanded the state to hold its responsibilities by instantly treating this issue and taking strict measures against the criminals by arresting them, prosecuting them, and taking most severe and deterrent punishments against them in order to protect the country and people.

In conclusion the two parties offered condolences to the families of the victims.