Lebanese Minister Survives Shooting Attack, Two Aides Killed

BEIRUT- Lebanese State Minister for the Displaced Affairs Saleh al-Gharib has escaped a shooting attack that killed two of his bodyguards.

Al-Gharib came under attack on Sunday when his convoy was making its way through the area of Kabrshmoun, the Mount Lebanon town near Aley.

Two other people were injured in the attack, according to social media reports.

 Al-Gharib: What happened was an armed ambush and a clear assassination attempt

According to the Lebanese National News Agency NNA , al-Gharib, confirmed that what happened in Kabrshmoun this afternoon “was an armed ambush and a clear assassination attempt.”

Al-Ghaib stressed “keen concern for civil peace and the unity of the Druze and their solidarity,” while calling for self-restraint in wake of the bloodshed that occurred.

He added: “We do not resort to the use of blood in politics”.

“There appears to be a decision to blow up the situation on the Mountain (a reference to the mountainous Chouf District, which is located southeast of the Lebanese capital),” said al-Gharib .

Lebanese President, General Michel Aoun, conducted a series of contacts to control the security situation that occurred this afternoon in the district of Aley, NNA correspondent reported.

Meanwhile, the President has summoned members of the Supreme Council for National Defense to a meeting tomorrow morning at Baabda Palace in wake of the arising developments.

Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab called for calm, telling the LBC network that the army had placed a large number of forces in the area .

 Akram Chehayeb, a senior PSP official and minister of education, also urged calm, saying: “What happened is the result of poor judgment by some officials and is a recipe for strife on the Mountain.”

H.M