This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23724039

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Deadly Lebanon blast in Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah claims at least 22 Beirut bomb: Hezbollah's Nasrallah blames Sunni radicals
(about 5 hours later)
The death toll from a blast that ripped through a southern suburb of Beirut on Thursday has risen to at least 22. The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, says radical Sunni Muslim militants bombed a Beirut suburb, killing 22 people.
The powerful car bomb detonated in a densely populated area of the Lebanese capital containing strongholds of the Shia militant movement Hezbollah. Mr Nasrallah's Shia group supports the government of President Assad in the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
Heavy damage was reported to nearby buildings and cars. "I will go myself to Syria if it is necessary in the battle against the takfiris (Sunni radicals)," Mr Nasrallah said, on his own TV channel.
A Syrian rebel group said it carried out Thursday's bombing.
Hundreds of people were injured in the evening attack claimed by the Battalions of Ayesha in a Shia area of Beirut known to be a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Mr Nasrallah urged his followers not to react blindly to the bombing which, he said, was aimed at drawing Lebanon into Syria's conflict.
He said if the attackers' aim had been to deter Hezbollah from fighting alongside the regime in Syria, his movement would double its forces there.
The site of the blast is close to the Sayyed al-Shuhada complex, where Hezbollah often holds mass rallies.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said officials were investigating if the van believed to be carrying the explosives had been driven by a suicide bomber.Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said officials were investigating if the van believed to be carrying the explosives had been driven by a suicide bomber.
Among the dead were a father, mother and their three daughters killed in their car. The explosion comes a month after another car bomb wounded more than 50 people in the same district of Beirut.
The blast is being linked to the conflict in Syria, which has stoked sectarian tensions in Lebanon. The site of the blast is close to the Sayyed al-Shuhada complex, where Hezbollah often holds mass rallies. Fighters from Hezbollah were instrumental in a strategic victory by Syrian government forces in Qusair, close to the border with Lebanon, in early June.
The explosion comes a month after another car bomb wounded more than 50 people in the same district of Beirut. A Sunni Islamist group said it had carried out that attack, promising more violence against Hezbollah. In a video message posted online, the Battalions of Ayesha suggested they had been behind July's bomb blast. The group threatened to carry out more attacks, referring to Hezbollah strongholds as "colonies of Iran".
The bombings are being viewed as retaliation for Hezbollah's armed support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Fighters from the militant group were instrumental in a strategic victory by Syrian government forces in Qusair, close to the border with Lebanon, in early June.
Hezbollah politicians have denounced the latest bombing as a "terrorist attack" and called for restraint from their followers.
A previously unknown group called the Battalions of Ayesha said it carried out Thursday's attack. In a video message posted online, they also implied they had been behind the Beirut bomb blast the previous month.
The group threatened to carry out more attacks, referring to Hezbollah strongholds as "colonies of Iran".
Events in Syria are putting Lebanon's fragile peace in jeopardy, threatening the equilibrium which has held since the end of the civil war more than 20 years ago.Events in Syria are putting Lebanon's fragile peace in jeopardy, threatening the equilibrium which has held since the end of the civil war more than 20 years ago.
Many Lebanese politicians blamed Israel in the wake of Thursday's blast, but Israeli President Shimon Peres denied culpability during a joint news conference with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.Many Lebanese politicians blamed Israel in the wake of Thursday's blast, but Israeli President Shimon Peres denied culpability during a joint news conference with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"I was surprised," Peres said. "Why should (they) look to Israel? (They have) a Hezbollah that collects bombs, that goes and kills people in Syria without the permission of the Lebanese government." "I was surprised," Mr Peres said. "Why should (they) look to Israel? (They have) a Hezbollah that collects bombs, that goes and kills people in Syria without the permission of the Lebanese government."