Hezbollah condemns deadly Beirut car bomb attack

Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah has condemned the deadly car bomb attack in the capital, which killed at least eight people and injured scores of others.

Hezbollah also called on Lebanese to stand united and urged an investigation into the Friday explosion. The Syrian government has also issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack as a ‘cowardly’ move.

The intelligence chief of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, General Wissam al-Hassan, is reported to be among those killed in the blast. He had recently uncovered an Israeli spy cell in Lebanon.

Lebanese protesters took to the streets shortly after the explosion to condemn Hassan’s assassination.

The explosion occurred in Beirut’s eastern Ashrafiya district, which is a predominantly Christian district, and near the headquarters of the the Phalange, a Maronite Christian party, during the rush hour as parents were picking up their children from school. Several building were damaged and many cars were set on fire as a result of the blast.

It was the first major bomb attack in Beirut since 2008. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the government was trying to identify the perpetrators and that they would be punished.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad al-Hariri, leader of Lebanon’s Druze community Walid Jumballat and Samir Gaegae have accused the Syrian government of being behind the deadly car bomb attack in Beirut.

HM/JR