Posted on 09/03/2010 6:14:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SHEHABIYEH, Lebanon (AFP) – A series of explosions on Friday ripped through a house rumoured to be serving as an arms depot in south Lebanon, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold, state media reported.
The state-run National News Agency said the blasts were in a three-storey building that was being used as an arms warehouse on the outskirts of the town of Shehabiyeh, just south of the Litani River, an area under surveillance of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
But the agency later withdrew its report, saying only that a series of explosions had been heard in the area.
A Lebanese army spokesman confirmed that there had been three explosions in the house, but said the nature and cause of the blasts was still unclear.
UNIFIL said it had no information on the incident. A helicopter bearing the multi-national force's blue logo was seen hovering briefly over the area before leaving.
"At this time all I'm able to tell you is that we are coordinating with the Lebanese army and we have sent patrols to the location," UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh told AFP.
Hezbollah issued a statement saying there were no casualties in what it said was a fire, although it did not comment on the cause of the blaze.
"Hezbollah's media relations denies that there have been casualties in the fire in Shehabiyeh as has been reported by media organisations," the statement said.
"The army is currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire," it said.
The fire was quickly put out as troops cordoned off the area, an AFP correspondent said. Ambulances also arrived at the site.
...
A nearby resident, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that the building had been rented out by the Shiite militant party.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Shi’ite happens.
Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah speaks via a video link during a ceremony marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day in Beirut's southern suburb. Nasrallah on Friday said a UN investigating the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri did "not concern" him, because it had dismissed data provided by his militant group. (AFP/Joseph Eid)
Industrial accident.
I hate it when that happens.
Mystery?
Were any ROP members seen in the area?
a house rumoured to be serving as an arms depot in south Lebanon, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold, state media reported... a three-storey building that was being used as an arms warehouse on the outskirts of the town of Shehabiyeh, just south of the Litani River, an area under surveillance of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)... A Lebanese army spokesman confirmed that there had been three explosions in the house... UNIFIL said it had no information on the incident....but its sending out some patrols with the "Lebanese army". Thanks NormsRevenge. Since the state-run propaganda agency said it happened, then said, no, it was just explosions, we don't know exactly, but the Lebanese army spokesman confirmed the original story, looks like some Hizzie-hole had a little axe eee dent.
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