Terrorism Again: Suicide Blast in Beirut

Once again the terrorism hits Lebanon as a suicide bomber blew himself up near an army checkpoint in the capital, Beirut.

National News Agency (NNA) reported that a security officer was martyred and 20 others were injured in the blast which took place late on Monday in Tayyouneh at one of the entrances to the southern suburb of Beirut.

The agency said the officer name is Abdel Karim Hodroj, noting that the General Security Directorate awaits the results of the DNA to officially announce his martyrdom.

Media reported that an old model Mercedec car was moving against traffic when it exploded, confirming the thesis that a suicide bomber has carried out the attack.

Later on Tuesday, the Lebanese Army issued a statement, confirming that the terrorist blast was caused by a suicide bomber who was riding a white Mercedes rigged with 25 KGs of TNT.

Last Friday, a suicide blast went off on Friday in Dahr Al-Baydar region eastern of Lebanon, targeting an Internal Security Forces checkpoint.

The blast killed one of ISF crew and wounded 34 others.

Updated at 1:30 am: A car bomb shook southern Beirut on Monday night, residents said.

Initial reports by Al-Jadeed said that the explosion was caused by a car bomb at a military checkpoint. An eyewitness told the news channel they had seen a white Mercedes go against traffic. The army then fired at the car before it exploded, damaging a nearby café.

Security sources have told Al-Akhbar that at least one person has been killed in the explosion, which took place 30 meters away from a military checkpoint near the entrance of Hadi Nasrallah freeway, near the Shatila roundabout.

The Red Cross confirmed that the suicide bomber was the only casualty. Medical sources estimated that between 12 and 15 people were injured.

Rumors that the suicide bomber was a woman spread on social media, but remained unconfirmed by Lebanese authorities.

This is the second bombing in Lebanon in less than a week, after three months of relative calm.

On Friday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint in eastern Lebanon, killing one policeman and injuring over 30 people.