An abandoned wheat field in Riyaq, and in the background, the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, on July 2, 2025. (Credit: Ali Baalbacki/L'Orient Today)
A man was arrested Wednesday morning in the town of Nabi Sheet, Baalbek District, after allegedly threatening to bomb a church in Riyaq and inciting violence against a Christian political party active in the Zahle region, according to a statement issued by Riyaq residents.
The arrest came after “the residents of Riyaq acted with full awareness and responsibility, joined by the town’s mokhtars, Zahle’s MPs, regional representatives and the competent security agencies,” the statement read. The residents hailed the move as “a step that reflects the return of the state's authority and its enforcement across all Lebanese territory.”
The statement, published Wednesday, described the threat as a “serious” and dangerous escalation. “In recent days, our beloved town of Riyaq faced a serious threat in the form of a public statement made by an individual that included a direct threat to blow up the town’s church,” it said. The threats also included “insults and incitement against one of the Christian parties present in Riyaq and the Zahle area, even going so far as to threaten to erase this party from existence.”
Officials and locals responded quickly, determined not to allow the incident to spark sectarian tension. “We extend our deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to this achievement: the security forces and specialized agencies, the MPs of Zahle and the region who acted promptly and responsibly, the mokhtars of Riyaq and the people of our town who handled this threat with utmost civility and discipline.”
The statement closed with a warning to anyone considering similar actions: “We affirm that our churches and sacred sites are a red line, and any attempt to violate them will be met today by a state that is present, effective and just.”
In June, a shooting and suicide bombing at a Damascus church during mass killed at least 22 people, authorities said, blaming a member of the Islamic State group for the unprecedented attack.
The international community condemned the attack, the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.
