BEIRUT, November 13. /TASS/. National mourning has been declared in Lebanon on Friday after a double suicide bombing in Beirut that has left 43 people dead. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, 239 people were injured.
The explosions occurred in Burj al-Barajneh, a predominantly Shia neighborhood of southern Beirut . In 2013 and 2014 terrorists were operating in the area. In response, the authorities took increased security measures managing to temporarily stop the wave of terror.
Extremists from the Islamic State radical Sunni group chose the Ain-al-Sikka shopping district as the site for the attack. Their target was the Imam al-Hussein Mosque. The first suicide bomber attempted to break through to it on a motorcycle. However, activist of the Hezbollah Shiite movement Adil Turmus stood in his way at the cost of his own life. He thus saved dozens of lives.
There are many Hezbollah supporters in the densely populated Shiite areas. Hezbollah volunteers are fighting in Syria helping the army and the militias to counter the armed gangs. Therefore, many people here believe that the terrorist attacks in Beirut are linked to the situation on the frontlines in the neighboring country. Over the past 48 hours, the government troops there have achieved important successes south and east of Aleppo. An important contribution to these victories has been made by the Hezbollah units.
The Hezbollah leaders have issued a statement confirming their "determination to continue unrelenting fight against terrorism until its complete eradication." Al-Haj Hussein Khalil noted on behalf of the Shiite movement that the decision to send volunteers to fight in Syria "was correct.".