The Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said that the Lebanese nation is experienced enough to know how to defuse the plots hatched by the country's enemies whose background in the region is full of enmity and dishonesty against the regional people.

“Undoubtedly, the resistant people from all walks of life and all political and social currents in Lebanon, while maintaining their unity and national cohesion, will cut the hands of those who violate the sovereignty, national unity and stability of the country and will not allow foreign meddlers, above all the usurper Zionist regime (of Israel), to achieve their ominous goals,” the statement said on Friday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry pointed to the sensitive situation across the Middle-East and expressed confidence that the Lebanese nation and political factions will foil the evil plot hatched by Israel and its mercenaries to destabilize Lebanon and incite tribal division in the country.

The Foreign Ministry also offered condolences to the families of the victims of the attack.

A heavy explosion that rocked the capital Beirut on Friday targeted the convoy of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's advisor.

An identification paper showing the name of ex-Minister Shatah was located in the area of the blast, Naharnet reported.

The bodies of Shatah and his bodyguard were retrieved from the scene and transferred to Rafik Hariri University Hospital.

The blast that hit Starco area in downtown Beirut near Bank Audi-SAL killed five people and at least 71 others wounded.

Caretaker PM Najib Miqati swiftly called for an emergency meeting for the Higher Council for Disasters.

Smoke was seen rising in the downtown Beirut area.

According to media reports, the explosion rocked near the Audeh Bank near Starco in downtown Beirut.

A meeting for the March 14 alliance was scheduled to be held at the Center House in downtown.

The blast, according to media reports, was caused by a booby-trapped car.

Several ambulances rushed to the scene as civil defense teams battled fire that erupted in the area of the explosion.

TV footage showed a car on fire and dead bodies lying near it.

People were seen running to rescue the injured as a helicopter was seen hovering over the area of the blast.

Security forces were seen opening fire in the air to disperse people gathered near the blast.

The blast caused a major dysfunction in mobile phone communications.

Beirut has been hit by several deadly attacks over the past months, including twin suicide bombings in November that targeted the Iranian embassy and bombings in the bastion of Hezbollah in the South of the capital over the summer.
 

News ID 185920