Lebanon blasts hit Iran's embassy in Beirut

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Mohamed Yehia from the BBC's Arabic Service says the explosions come amid a spillover from the fighting in Syria

At least 22 people are reported to have been killed in two explosions that hit the Iranian embassy in the Lebanese capital Beirut in quick succession.The Iranian cultural attache Ebrahim Ansari was among the dead.Iran is a major backer of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, which has sent fighters to Syria to back the government of Bashar al-Assad.A jihadist group linked to al-Qaeda, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, has said it carried out the attack.

More than 140 people were wounded by the double blast on Tuesday morning


Reports said one of the blasts was caused by a suicide bomber, while the second was a car bomb.TV images showed burning cars, bodies on the street and damaged buildings.Carine Torbey, from BBC Arabic, says if it is confirmed as a suicide attack, it would be a major escalation.Our correspondent, who is at the scene, says security forces are still trying to rescue anyone who may be trapped in the rubble, while Hezbollah fighters are searching everyone who wants to enter the area.Reuters quotes Lebanese officials as saying CCTV footage showed a man rushing towards the outer wall of the Iranian embassy before blowing himself up, causing the first blast.The Iranian ambassador to Beirut confirmed Mr Ansari's death to Hezbollah's al-Manar TV, but said it was not clear if he had been in the embassy itself or one of the residential buildings nearby.Mr Ansari had only taken up his post a month ago, he said.The ambassador blamed Israel for the attack - an accusation Israel swiftly rejected.Syria condemned the explosion.The Syrian conflict has increased sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

People gathered at the scene of the two blasts near the Iranian embassy in the neighbourhood of Janah, a Hezbollah stronghold


South Beirut, including the area around the Iranian embassy, is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. It has been hit by several attacks in recent months.Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the attack "a cowardly terrorist act", Lebanese state news agency NNA reported."The aim of the blast is to stir up the situation in Lebanon and use the Lebanese arena to convey messages," he said.Our correspondent says those responsible wanted to send a clear message to Iran and Hezbollah.Tehran and the Shia militant group are key backers of the Syrian government, which is currently trying to cut off one of the Syrian rebels' last remaining supply routes across the Lebanese border.On 15 August, 27 people were killed in a car bomb in south Beirut believed to have been targeting a Sunni Muslim cleric opposed to Hezbollah. The cleric was unhurt.Hezbollah fighters were instrumental in a strategic victory by Syrian government forces in Qusair, close to the border with Lebanon, in early June.
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