President Michel Suleiman offered his condolences on Sunday to the victims of Saturday's bombing in the Bekaa region of Hermel.

He said: “The army has become the main target of terrorist attacks.”

“It realizes that it is paying the price for performing its national duties,” he remarked.

“The martyrdom of its members is the price they have to pay for maintaining the peace in Lebanon,” added the president.

He also called on the military and security forces to strengthen their will in confronting terrorism in order to “protect the nation, its peace, people, and stability.”

On Saturday, three people were killed, including two soldiers, and 16 wounded, including five soldiers, in a car bombing against an army checkpoint in the Bekaa region of al-Hermel.

Hermel, a Hizbullah stronghold, has seen multiple attacks in recent months related to the war raging in neighboring Syria.

Until Saturday, the attacks had all killed civilians.

The Army Command on Sunday said that a black Grand Cherokee vehicle, made in 1994, was used in Saturday's bombing.

The military expert estimated that about 125 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.