WarSclerotic

Blasts rock Iranian Embassy in Beirut – Israel News, Ynetnews.

At least 20 people killed, 96 injured in southern district of Lebanese capital. Official news agency: One explosion caused by suicide bomber, second by car bomb

Roi Kais

At least 20 people were killed Tuesday morning in two strong explosions near the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon. According to one report, several rockets were fired at the area and at least one of them hit the building.

The area of the blasts in southern Beirut is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. The Shiite organization is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and is helping him in his war against Syrian rebels.

The official Lebanese news agency reported that according to an initial investigation, the first blast was caused by a suicide bomber and the second one was triggered by a terrorist driving a car bomb. According to estimates, the explosive devices weighed more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds).

The Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen network reported that at least seven people were killed and several were injured in a car bomb explosion in the al-Janah region.

Scene of blast (Photo: Reuters) 

The Hezbollah affiliated al-Manar network reported that 10 people had been killed in the explosions. The embassy building sustained heavy damage, according to the reports, and at least 10 vehicles caught fire.

According to a correspondent of the Lebanese network, clerics and security guards were hurt in the blasts near the embassy.

The Voice of Lebanon 93.3 radio station reported that the Iranian Embassy said it was not the target of the attack and that the Iranian ambassador was not hurt.

Lebanese security organizations are encircling the scene of the attack and rescue forces are attempting to assist the injured. The Hezbollah organization has stationed massive forces at the entrance to the Dahiya quarter.

The deadly attack comes several days after Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah made two rare performances in south Beirut in honor of the Shiite Ashura holiday. In a speech he delivered before the holiday, Nasrallah said: “Tomorrow nothing but will separate us from Hussein but Allah’s will. No danger, no attack, no bloodshed and no car bomb.”

Several terror attacks have taken place in Lebanon in recent months, including in the Dahiya controlled by Hezbollah. Dozens of people have been killed in the attack, which were believed to be acts of revenge over the involvement of Hassan Nasrallah’s organization in the civil war in Syria.

This entry was posted on November 19, 2013 at 11:31 AM and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.