Blog 3: Teresa Lindsey, 02/21/2014 4:36 p.m., 4 Killed and dozens are wounded in Beirut suicide attack

Summary:

The article titled “4 Killed and dozens are wounded in Beirut suicide attack” discusses an incident that occurred on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 in Beirut close to an Iranian cultural center. Two suicide bombers blew up their cars and killed four people and wounded many others. Lebanese army said “the bombers drove vehicles packed with explosives and mortar shells to maximize the damage”. Some of the wounded were children who were in a nearby orphanage. This was the latest attack targeting Shiite areas in Lebanon. The Shiite militant group is backed by Iran. An AL-Qaeda-linked group took responsibility for the bombings, basically saying it was retaliation for Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian was. There have been many similar attacks since July against Shiite areas where civilians have been killed and wounded. Residents are angry and very upset because they say that the enemy they are facing is unknown and want to kill them because of their faith. The damage from this attack was very severe. The blast set trees and cars on fire and shattered windows. Many people thought that an earthquake had just happened. A building that once housed a pharmacy, a clothing shop, and a popular sweet shop was destroyed so bad that the only thing that was left was mangled metal. As you can imagine, people are being very cautious and the local Al Zahraa hospital has increased security by posting armed guards with assault rifles. Abdullah Azzam Brigades posted on his twitter account that the “invasion of the Iranian cultural center” was in “retaliation for Iran’s party fighting along the criminal regime in Syria”. That comment was in reference to Hezbollah, which has been an ally of Assad’s government. Their fighters have been a great help in dislodging the Syrian rebels from the Lebanon border. Abdullah Azzam Brigades said the attacks will continue until Hezbollah fighters withdraw from Syria and several detainees are released from Lebanese jails. It was also stated that Hezbollah will not “enjoy security in Lebanon until the people of Syria feel secure”.

Analysis:

This article highlights an ongoing problem in Beirut that they have been having since July, against the Shiite’s. Innocent civilians including children are being killed and severely wounded as a result of these attacks. It is sad that we live in world where people can feel like if they don’t agree with your views, beliefs, and/or way of thinking they can hatch up a plan to kill you to make a statement. I think that what really bothered me about this article was that it talked about how the neighbors felt that they were being sought out and killed because of who they worshiped. Everyone should be able to live their lives the way that they want to and go to any church they desire and not have to worry about dying because they are Christian and not Muslim.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/4-killed-dozens-wounded-in-beirut-suicide-attack/2014/02/19/f1845218-997d-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html