UN, US, and Iran Condemn Beirut Explosions

On Thursday, November 21, the UN Secretary-General, the United States, and Iran condemned the explosions of two suicide bombs in a southern Beirut area that left at least 43 dead and 240 injured. The Islamic State group (ISIS) claimed responsibility for these attacks in a statement. Reports indicate that the two suicide bombings shook the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area controlled by Hezbollah. Lebanese hospital officials state that the condition of several of the injured is critical, and the death toll may rise. According to Reuters, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned the explosions, calling the attacks 'unjustifiable.' Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, also condemned the suicide attacks in Beirut and expressed support for the Lebanese government, particularly its army and security forces. Mark Toner, a spokesperson for the US State Department, expressed condolences to the victims and stated, 'The United States strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks against civilians in the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon.' The US State Department spokesperson emphasized that today's events remind us of the numerous challenges Lebanon faces. The terrorists' goal with today's attacks is to undermine freedom and security in Lebanon, which the Lebanese people have endured great hardships to achieve. Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, also condemned the Beirut explosions. In his statement, he expressed hope that 'with the solidarity of the people, the resistance, and the army of Lebanon, and the serious determination of the international community in the fight against terrorism, the grounds for an active and effective confrontation with extremist and terrorist currents will be provided, and the cohesion of the diverse Lebanese community as a symbol of coexistence and resistance will be preserved.' Initially, two suicide bombers were reported to have carried out the attacks, but later, the Lebanese army announced the existence of a third suicide bomber who was killed in the second explosion before he could detonate his bombs. Images of this suicide bomber were also released in the media. Some local television stations, including Al-Jadeed, reported the arrest of another suicide bomber and published images regarding this, although this information has not yet been confirmed by official sources. According to Lebanese media reports, the suicide attackers reached the explosion site on foot. The first attacker detonated himself in front of shops where people were coming and going, and minutes later, after a crowd gathered to assist the victims, the second suicide bomber detonated his vest in front of the 'Imam Hussein Mosque.' The Burj al-Barajneh area, where the suicide bombings occurred, is a low-cost and therefore very crowded area. The narrow streets in this neighborhood are filled with people, which explains the high number of casualties. It appears that the planning for these attacks was precise and long-term. These explosions occurred after months of calm in the Dahiyeh region.