BBC
11/19/2013
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Two suicide bombers reported responsible |
Iran is a major backer of the Lebanaese Shia militant group Hezbollah, which has sent fighters to Syria to back the government of Bashar al-Assad.
The conflict in Syria has worsened sectarian tensions in Lebanon.
The area around the Iranian embassy, in south Beirut, is considered a Hezbollah stronghold.
On 15 August, 16 people were killed in a blast in south Beirut.
Hezbollah fighters were instrumental in a strategic victory by Syrian government forces in Qusair, close to the border with Lebanon, in early June.
UPDATE:
ALBAWABA NEWS
11/19/2013 - 08:09 GMT
Residents reported a loud blast being heard, while local Lebanese media broadcast live images of smoke billowing from the embassy building.Harrowing pictures of wounded people being carried from the scene of the blast were also broadcast.
A security source speaking to Reuters news agency denied earlier reports that the explosion was caused by rockets, saying the cause was a car bomb.
The Iranian ambassador is reportedly unharmed.
The blast occurred in an area considered a stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.