UN Security Council condemns terrorist attack in Lebanon

The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned the suicide car bombing in an east Lebanese city near the border with Syria, calling it a "terrorist attack."

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the terrorist attack on January 16, 2014 in Hermel, Lebanon, which killed 5 people and injured dozens," said a statement issued here by the 15-member Council.

While underlining the need to bring the perpetrators to justice, the Council members extended their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in " this heinous act" and to the people and government of Lebanon.

The Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, "regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts," said the statement.

The Security Council also appealed to all Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country's stability.

The most powerful UN body also stressed "the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon's policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis," said the statement.

The raging war in Syria has deeply divided the Lebanese and triggered political tensions and sectarian clashes in Lebanon. In addition to the suspected suicide car bombing which rocked the east Bekaa city of Hermel Thursday, killing five people and injuring at least 48 others, Lebanon has seen several other deadly attacks over the past months, including twin suicide bombings in November that targeted the Iranian embassy in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.