Iran Condemns Deadly Blast in Beirut
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a bloody bomb blast in a suburb of Lebanon's capital city of Beirut that killed and wounded dozens of people.
“The resisting people of Lebanon, along with their wise leaders, have always defused the Zionist regime’s divisive plots,” Marziyeh Afkham said on Thursday, noting that the Lebanese will certainly once again remain vigilant in the face of such hostile plots hatched by the Israeli regime.
Her comments came after a big car bomb killed at least five people and injured more than 70 others in Beirut’s densely populated area of Haret Hreik district.
The blast has reportedly destroyed several vehicles and part of the facade of a building in the area.
“The Lebanese government and nation will definitely stop those who want to violate (Lebanon’s) security, stability and national unity,” the spokeswoman added.
Following the bombing, Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, called for national unity.
Qassem did not accuse any party of being behind the attack, but he did make a call to tackle "takfiri (radical extremist) terrorists," echoing accusations by over previous attacks on Hezbollah.
"Lebanon is on the path to destruction if there is no political understanding, and we cannot save [the country] without national unity," Qassem told Hezbollah's television channel Al-Manar. "The answer is political understanding, and the speedy formation of a national unity government to face the criminal attacks across the country."
Meanwhile, the country’s Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour appealed for international support to curb the violence and cut off financial aid and other support for bombers.
