Israel Matzav

Huge car bomb in Hezbullah stronghold in South Beirut kills 20, injures 212, Nasrallah blames 'Zionists'

A powerful car bomb has killed 20 people and injured 212 in Hezbullah's South Beirut stronghold on Thursday night. Hezbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, whose cave is nearby, blamed the 'Zionists.'

Let's go to the videotape.

The Lebanese Armed Forces stated that 60-80kgs. of explosive materials were used in the blast. A witness said at least five nearby buildings were damaged and many cars in the area were destroyed. The blast sent a column of black smoke over the densely populated area in the south of the Lebanese capital.

Several minutes after Thursday's blast, live television footage showed fires still burning in the street where the explosion took place. The facades of neighboring residential buildings were also badly damaged.

The attack occurred close to the Sayyed al-Shuhadaa (Martyrs) complex, where Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah often addresses his followers.

A witness said that "Hezbollah forces hermetically sealed the area, and dozens of ambulances arrived at the scene."

But it apparently wasn't the Zionists. It was the Sunnis.

A Sunni Islamist group calling itself the Brigades of Aisha claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying it targeted Hezbollah and promising more attacks.

"This is the second time that we decide the place of the battle and its timing...And you will see more, God willing," said a masked man, flanked by two others brandishing rifles, in a video statement addressed to Nasrallah.

 Faster, faster....

Labels: Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbullah, Shiites v. Sunnis

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:22 PM