Large explosion hit Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut

Fire and smoke at site of explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs A large explosion hit a Hezbollah stronghold in south Beirut Thursday, the Shiite group's Al-Manar television reported, on the heels of a November double suicide bombing at Iran's embassy in the area. "A very big blast hit Haret Hreik... targeting

an area that is very densely populated," Al-Manar said in an initial report.
Ambulance sirens were heard in the capital. Al-Manar showed footage of emergency vehicles arriving at the scene.
The broadcaster also aired pictures of bystanders scrambling to put out fires in cars parked beneath a building whose facade was badly damaged by the explosion.
Car bomb killed five people and wounded at least 20 in a Hezbollah bastion in south Beirut on Thursday, a health ministry source told AFP.
"According to an initial toll, five people have been killed and more than 20 injured," the source said on condition of anonymity.
Source: AFP