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Fatal Beirut blast targets Hezbollah stronghold Fatal Beirut blast targets Hezbollah stronghold
(about 2 hours later)
A car bomb ripped through a Shia neighbourhood in southern Beirut on Tuesday, killing four people, in the latest attack targeting supporters of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group. A car bomb ripped through a Shia neighbourhood in southern Beirut on Tuesday, killing four people, in the latest attack targeting supporters of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group.
It was the second bombing in the neighbourhood of Haret Hreik this month amid a series of attacks that have shaken Lebanon in a spillover of Syria's civil war into its smaller neighbour.It was the second bombing in the neighbourhood of Haret Hreik this month amid a series of attacks that have shaken Lebanon in a spillover of Syria's civil war into its smaller neighbour.
The violence has targeted both Lebanon's Sunnis and Shias and has further stoked sectarian tensions that are already running high as each Lebanese community lines up with its brethren in Syria on opposing sides of the war.The violence has targeted both Lebanon's Sunnis and Shias and has further stoked sectarian tensions that are already running high as each Lebanese community lines up with its brethren in Syria on opposing sides of the war.
As the car bomb went off, thousands of people flocked to the southern Beirut district. Footage broadcast by the Hezbollah-owned al-Manar television station showed medics hauling a man on a stretcher out of the area as flames engulfed a building and debris littered the busy commercial street. As the car bomb went off thousands of people flocked to the southern Beirut district. Footage broadcast by the Hezbollah-owned al-Manar television station showed medics hauling a man on a stretcher out of the area as flames engulfed a building and debris littered the busy commercial street.
The Lebanese Red Cross, in a statement to the state-run National News Agency, said that along with the four killed, 35 people were wounded in the explosion.The Lebanese Red Cross, in a statement to the state-run National News Agency, said that along with the four killed, 35 people were wounded in the explosion.
A group known as al-Nusra Front in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for Hezbollah's military support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria.A group known as al-Nusra Front in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for Hezbollah's military support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria.
The claim was posted on the group's Twitter account. Its name suggested ties to the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front in Syria, one of the most powerful Sunni militant brigades fighting Assad's troops and their allies.The claim was posted on the group's Twitter account. Its name suggested ties to the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front in Syria, one of the most powerful Sunni militant brigades fighting Assad's troops and their allies.
"There was a car beeping, and then it exploded," an eyewitness told the Voice of Lebanon radio station. "Then we saw people on the ground like every time." "There was a car beeping, and then it exploded," a witness told the Voice of Lebanon radio station. "Then we saw people on the ground like every time."
Similar attacks have targeted Shia areas in Lebanon in recent months in retaliation for the Shia Hezbollah fighters' role in the civil war next door where Assad's forces are battling chaotic bands of Sunni rebels, including extremists fighters linked to al-Qaida.Similar attacks have targeted Shia areas in Lebanon in recent months in retaliation for the Shia Hezbollah fighters' role in the civil war next door where Assad's forces are battling chaotic bands of Sunni rebels, including extremists fighters linked to al-Qaida.
While Lebanon's Shias have broadly supported Assad's rule, the country's Sunni community generally aides their brethren in Syria and Sunni groups such as the al-Nusra Front in Lebanon have sought to punish Lebanon's Shias. While Lebanon's Shias have broadly supported Assad's rule, the country's Sunni community generally backs their brethren in Syria and Sunni groups such as the al-Nusra Front in Lebanon have sought to punish Lebanon's Shias.Shortly after Tuesday's bombing, clashes broke out in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, killing at least one person. The city, with impoverished rival Sunni and Shia areas, has seen frequent sectarian clashes linked to the war Syria that have killed dozens.
Shortly after Tuesday's bombing, clashes broke out in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, killing at least one person. The city, with impoverished rival Sunni and Shia areas, has seen frequent sectarian clashes linked to the war Syria that have killed dozens.