Aftermath of bombing (Image via Zahri Abbas)

Islamic State (IS) claim responsibility for a double bombing which targeted the Shia communities in the district of Burj al-Barajneh, southern Beirut, Lebanon. It is an area associated with Hezbollah whom IS regard as “apostates” and containing a large Palestinian refugee camp. One bomber used a motorbike loaded with explosives, minutes later a second bomber wearing a suicide vest targeted first responders on the scene. According to security services the body of a third person was found but was killed before he could detonate explosives. The IS claim could not be independently verified. At least 37 people have been killed and 181 wounded according to officials in the region.

IS statement

Hezbollah MP Bilal Farhat told AP, “They targeted civilians, worshippers, women and the elderly. It only targeted those innocent people. This is a Satanic terrorist act, carried out by apostates.”

Rana Harbi who describes herself as a pro-resistance Lebanese journalist called the bombers cowards saying, “walking into a residential area & blowing yourselves up … Go to the battlefield and fight our men”. She tweeted a series of photos of the victims, as follows,

Adel Tormos, Real life hero He stopped the suicide bomber from entering the mosque. He has 2 kids. #BourjAlBarajneh

Our martyrs are not numbers: Hussein & his wife were killed today in #BourjAlBarajneh. Their son is injured #Lebanon

Haidar is alone now. Both of his parents died today in #BourjAlBarajneh.

Rawan, a beautiful & smart school teacher & master’s student RIP #BourjAlBarajneh

Bilal, a very hard worker. RIP #BourjAlBarajneh

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated that Friday will be observed as a day of a day of mourning for the victims condemning the attacks as “unjustifiable” and called on Lebanon’s rival factions to unite against “plans to create strife”.

The American Lebanese University tweeted

We are greatly saddened by the aftermath of today’s explosion in southern Beirut. LAU will be closed on Friday, November 13.

IS also has its eye on attacking Russia soon according to a new video release from Al-Hayat Media wing which included the chants, “soon, very soon, the blood will spill like an ocean” according to SITE. IS threat is in retaliation for Russian bombing of Syria killing both fighters and devastating civilian areas. They operate a “like for like” policy as seen in many of their videos. IS recently claimed responsibility for downing a plane carrying tourists from Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt where IS is fighting security forces in Sinai, back to Russia

 Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. (She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”)