Screenshot of video circulating on social media that shows an explosion of unknown origin that occurred in southern Lebanon, in the early hours of Jan. 13, 2022.
BEIRUT —A powerful explosion of unknown origin was reported Thursday morning in the district of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon.
Here’s what we know:
• Hezbollah quickly deployed to the scene, where a fire broke out because of the explosion, reports L’Orient Today’s correspondent in South Lebanon.
• The explosion was heard by residents of the villages of Houmin Fawqa and Roumin in South Lebanon at around 2 a.m. Some witnesses said the ground vibrated under their feet, causing them to leave their homes in the middle of the night in panic. Others claim that members of Hezbollah quickly deployed to the scene of the explosion and drew up a security cordon. Some witnesses claimed that the explosion took place in a room used by the Shiite party for non-military purposes, and that the explosion was caused by gas canisters located at the scene.
• Preliminary reports from our correspondent indicate that there were no injuries.
• At the end of December, an explosion took place on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Bekaa without causing any casualties. The state-run National News Agency and Hezbollah media had reported a detonation of an old ammunition stockpile without giving more details. Local sources cited by our correspondent in the Bekaa reported that the ammunition belonged to Hezbollah.
• In September 2020, a mysterious and powerful explosion took place in a building in the town of Ain Qana, a Hezbollah stronghold in South Lebanon.