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4 killed and dozens are wounded in Beirut suicide attack 4 killed, dozens wounded in Beirut suicide attack
(7 months later)
BEIRUT — Two suicide bombers blew up their cars near an Iranian cultural center in Beirut on Wednesday, killing at least four people and wounding scores, including children in an orphanage, in the latest attack targeting Shiite areas in Lebanon.BEIRUT — Two suicide bombers blew up their cars near an Iranian cultural center in Beirut on Wednesday, killing at least four people and wounding scores, including children in an orphanage, in the latest attack targeting Shiite areas in Lebanon.
An al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying they were retaliation for Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian war alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s ­forces. The Shiite militant group is backed by Iran.An al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying they were retaliation for Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian war alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s ­forces. The Shiite militant group is backed by Iran.
But the attack — like a dozen other similar bombings since July against Shiite areas of Lebanon — killed and wounded civilians. They included a dozen boys and girls living in a home for abandoned and orphaned children, said Hussam Bitar, a surgeon at Al Zahraa hospital, where the youngsters were treated.But the attack — like a dozen other similar bombings since July against Shiite areas of Lebanon — killed and wounded civilians. They included a dozen boys and girls living in a home for abandoned and orphaned children, said Hussam Bitar, a surgeon at Al Zahraa hospital, where the youngsters were treated.
The blasts have embittered and angered residents, who say they are facing an unknown enemy seeking to kill them because of their faith.The blasts have embittered and angered residents, who say they are facing an unknown enemy seeking to kill them because of their faith.
“You can’t imagine this from somebody you live with, somebody who could be your neighbor,” Bitar said.“You can’t imagine this from somebody you live with, somebody who could be your neighbor,” Bitar said.
Bitar’s pants were stained with the blood of one of the orphaned girls who suffered shrapnel injuries. “She couldn’t even remember her name. Did the bomber think of that orphanage?” he asked.Bitar’s pants were stained with the blood of one of the orphaned girls who suffered shrapnel injuries. “She couldn’t even remember her name. Did the bomber think of that orphanage?” he asked.
The blast set cars and trees ablaze and shattered the windows of nearby buildings. Mangled metal hung from a smashed building that once held a pharmacy, a clothing shop and a well-known sweet shop, Gondoline. Blood and tattered clothes lay on the ground amid the charred remains of six cars.The blast set cars and trees ablaze and shattered the windows of nearby buildings. Mangled metal hung from a smashed building that once held a pharmacy, a clothing shop and a well-known sweet shop, Gondoline. Blood and tattered clothes lay on the ground amid the charred remains of six cars.
“I thought it was an earthquake,” said Gondoline owner Sam Hasna, a Lebanese Canadian. “Everything was on fire. The whole store had crashed down. I saw shattered people, shattered cars, and I collapsed.”“I thought it was an earthquake,” said Gondoline owner Sam Hasna, a Lebanese Canadian. “Everything was on fire. The whole store had crashed down. I saw shattered people, shattered cars, and I collapsed.”
Hasna later discovered that one employee had been killed and another was in critical condition.Hasna later discovered that one employee had been killed and another was in critical condition.
“I am trying to reserve the first ticket back to Canada,” said Hasna, who spent years building a life in Lebanon. “We tried, we tried, we tried.”“I am trying to reserve the first ticket back to Canada,” said Hasna, who spent years building a life in Lebanon. “We tried, we tried, we tried.”
The bombings are causing panic, Bitar said. Al Zahraa hospital recently tightened security, posting guards with assault rifles. He said jumpy guards nearly killed two men after the blast, fearing that they were more suicide bombers.The bombings are causing panic, Bitar said. Al Zahraa hospital recently tightened security, posting guards with assault rifles. He said jumpy guards nearly killed two men after the blast, fearing that they were more suicide bombers.
In the hospital, Mariam Atweh, 21, watched over her husband, Abdullah, 31, whose arm was mangled by shrapnel.In the hospital, Mariam Atweh, 21, watched over her husband, Abdullah, 31, whose arm was mangled by shrapnel.
“They say they are Muslims like us. But they treat us like the enemy. What are they doing?” she asked.“They say they are Muslims like us. But they treat us like the enemy. What are they doing?” she asked.
The Lebanese army said the bombers drove vehicles packed with explosives and mortar shells to maximize the damage.The Lebanese army said the bombers drove vehicles packed with explosives and mortar shells to maximize the damage.
The explosions seriously damaged the white facade of Iran’s cultural center, despite blast walls recently erected around the building. The state-run Lebanese news agency quoted the Iranian Embassy as saying no diplomats or workers were injured. But one wounded man in the hospital said he was an Iranian Embassy worker.The explosions seriously damaged the white facade of Iran’s cultural center, despite blast walls recently erected around the building. The state-run Lebanese news agency quoted the Iranian Embassy as saying no diplomats or workers were injured. But one wounded man in the hospital said he was an Iranian Embassy worker.
The Abdullah Azzam Brigades said on its Twitter account that the “invasion of the Iranian cultural center” was in “retaliation for Iran’s party fighting along the criminal regime in Syria.”The Abdullah Azzam Brigades said on its Twitter account that the “invasion of the Iranian cultural center” was in “retaliation for Iran’s party fighting along the criminal regime in Syria.”
It was referring to Hezbollah, which has been a staunch ally of Assad’s government. Hezbollah’s fighters have been instrumental in helping dislodge Syrian rebels from areas near the border with Lebanon.It was referring to Hezbollah, which has been a staunch ally of Assad’s government. Hezbollah’s fighters have been instrumental in helping dislodge Syrian rebels from areas near the border with Lebanon.
The Abdullah Azzam Brigades said the attacks in Lebanon will continue until Hezbollah fighters withdraw from Syria and scores of detainees are released from Lebanese jails. It said Hezbollah will not “enjoy security in Lebanon until the people of Syria feel secure.”The Abdullah Azzam Brigades said the attacks in Lebanon will continue until Hezbollah fighters withdraw from Syria and scores of detainees are released from Lebanese jails. It said Hezbollah will not “enjoy security in Lebanon until the people of Syria feel secure.”
Two visiting U.S. senators, Timothy M. Kaine (D-Va.) and Angus King (I-Maine), condemned the latest spillover of violence from Syria’s civil war.Two visiting U.S. senators, Timothy M. Kaine (D-Va.) and Angus King (I-Maine), condemned the latest spillover of violence from Syria’s civil war.