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Israel denies taking part in Lebanese car bombing

Published July 10th, 2013 - 08:00 GMT
A firefighter stands after extinguishing fire from vehicles at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburb neighbourhood of Bir al-Abed on July 9, 2013. (Source: AFP/STR)
A firefighter stands after extinguishing fire from vehicles at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburb neighbourhood of Bir al-Abed on July 9, 2013. (Source: AFP/STR)

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon denied that his country was involved in the blast that target Bir al-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs.

“The civil war in Syria has spilled over into Lebanon after Hizbullah interfered in it,” Yaalon said.

The minister considered that the explosion is linked to “the struggle between the Shiites and the Sunnis within Lebanon.”

At least 53 people were wounded in the explosion that was caused by a booby-trapped vehicle in the Hizbullah Stronghold neighborhood.

Officially neutral in Syria's conflict, Lebanon is deeply divided into pro- and anti-Assad camps.

Hizbullah and its allies back President Bashar Assad, who adheres to the Alawite offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the Sunni-led opposition supports rebels seeking his ouster.

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