Exp0losion in Beirut - the Syrian conflict spreads

Beirut car bomb kills 18, wounds 200 in Hezbollah stronghold

At least 18 people have been killed and 200 wounded in a powerful car bombing in a Beirut stronghold of pro-Damascus Shi'ite group Hezbollah, national news agency NNA says

Smoke seen from Mount Lebanon rises from the site of a car bomb explosion in southern Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: AP

The Age,

16 August, 2013

The explosion on Thursday damaged buildings and set cars ablaze in Beirut's southern suburbs, a bastion of the militant group that backs Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

A military source told AFP the explosion, targeting an area between the Bir al-Abed and Rweiss neighbourhoods, was caused by a car bomb.

Smoke seen from Mount Lebanon rises from the site of a car bomb explosion in southern Beirut, Lebanon.

"Preliminary reports say the bodies of 10 people ... were taken to Sahel hospital, as well as 42 wounded, while four bodies... and 100 wounded were taken to Rasul al-Aazam hospital," NNA said.

Another 50 wounded were taken to other hospitals, the agency said.

Hezbollah's television channel showed firemen helping residents trapped in their homes escape the flames, as well as a crowd of people in panic and rage, gathered near the site of the explosion.

Lebanese fire fighters extinguish a flame at the site of a car bomb between the Bir el-Abed and Roueiss neighbourhoods, in the southern suburb of Beirut.

Lebanese fire fighters extinguish a flame at the site of a car bomb between the Bir el-Abed and Roueiss neighbourhoods, in the southern suburb of Beirut. Photo: AFP

A previously unknown group, believed to be a Syrian rebel cell, have claimed responsibility for the attack in an online video that surfaced shortly after news of the explosion broke.

The video showed three masked men, two holding rifles, in front of a white flag inscribed with the Islamic profession of faith.

"We... send a message to (Hezbollah chief) Hassan Nasrallah's pigs," said one of the men, wearing a white mask.

The attack comes just over a month after the Bir al-Abed area was hit by a car bomb attack that left more than 50 injured, and was later claimed by another little-known Syrian rebel group.

In an interview on Wednesday, Nasrallah said his group was taking steps to ensure July's attack was not repeated.

Hezbollah, whose military wing was blacklisted by the European Union in July, has been fighting in Syria alongside Dr Assad's troops to help crush an anti-regime rebellion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs_XtYlAqTw