Patriarch Rai: The South Belongs to Lebanon, Sovereignty to the State!

Confirmed Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai that "what happens in the south affects all of Lebanon, and it is unacceptable for citizens' deaths to become routine news," noting in his Sunday sermon that "the people of Nabatiye are our relatives and their blood is no less valuable than any other Lebanese, and protecting the south cannot be done through slogans."

He also called for "establishing a coordination mechanism to ensure the movement of residents in border villages and the delivery of aid to them, so they can remain on their land."

He pointed out that "negotiations must follow a clear path to safeguard sovereignty, prevent further escalation, and serve as a means to achieve a clear solution ending instability." He added that "concentrating weapons under state control is not about dominance but about the state's right to be responsible for its people, because sovereignty cannot be upheld through multiple references."