Two Lebanese were killed as gunmen targeted a funeral procession in the Khaldeh area

Beirut-Sana

Two Lebanese were killed and others were wounded when gunmen targeted a funeral procession in the Khaldeh area, south of Beirut.

Hezbollah's media relations said in a statement today: "During the funeral of Ali Shibli to his final resting place in the town of Konin, and when the funeral procession arrived at the family's home in the Khaldeh area, the mourners were exposed to a planned ambush and heavy shooting by gunmen in the area, which led to the martyrdom of two of the soldiers." mourners and a number of wounded.”

The statement added: "The leadership of Hezbollah, as it follows the issue with great interest and accuracy, calls on the army and security forces to intervene decisively to impose security and work quickly to stop the criminal killers and arrest them in preparation for bringing them to trial."

A force of the Lebanese army, backed by vehicles and tanks, was deployed around Khaldeh and conducted foot and motorized patrols.

In a statement, the army said that its units deployed in Khaldeh "will shoot at any gunman who is on the roads in Khaldeh and at those who shoot from anywhere else."

Yesterday, a gunman shot Chebli while he was at a wedding party in Jiyeh, killing him instantly.

For his part, Lebanese President General Michel Aoun asked the army command to take immediate measures to restore calm to the region, arrest the shooters, and ensure the safe movement of citizens on the international road.

Aoun said: “The current circumstances do not allow any security breach or practices that fuel the required sedition and nip it in the bud, and all parties must cooperate to achieve this goal.”

For his part, the person in charge of forming the government, Najib Mikati, announced that he had contacted the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, who confirmed that the army would strengthen its presence in the region to control the situation, calling on the people of the region to “awareness and restraint in order to prevent bloodshed and not be drawn into strife and useless fighting.”

Hezbollah had affirmed its absolute rejection of all kinds of killing and the desecration of sanctities and dignity, stressing the need for the state to fulfill its duty of prosecution and accountability.

And the party said in another statement: "Ali Shibli, by the logic of impunity and fanaticism, who is far from the logic of religion and the state, and the security and judicial agencies must confront firmly, hold the perpetrators and those who participated with them accountable, and prosecute the instigators who are addicted to blowing the trumpets of sedition and are famous for blocking roads and insulting citizens."