Large explosion kills 4 near Iranian cultural center in BeirutFebruary 19, 2014 - 12:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A large explosion near an Iranian cultural center in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut on Wednesday, Feb 19, killed at least four people and wounded 19, security sources said, according to Reuters. Security sources said the explosion appeared to have been caused by a car bomb and a motorcycle laden with explosives. The area is controlled by the Shi'ite political and militant movement Hezbollah. Iran's embassy in the same area was targeted by a bomb attack in November, one a series of car bombs in southern Beirut since July. The Kuwaiti embassy is also located in the same area. Lebanese television footage showed fire trucks and Lebanese soldiers standing in the streets. A wounded man was carried away on a stretcher and a young girl was being evacuated by two men. Glass covered the road and nearby buildings were damaged. Radical Sunni Islamists have pledged to attack Hezbollah on Lebanese soil for its intervention in Syria to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the Alawite offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, in his war against majority Sunni rebels. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |