Lebanon's PM Steps Down in Wake of Beirut Explosion and Public Fury

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Iran, meanwhile, expressed concern that Western countries and their allies might exploit anger over the explosion to pursue their political interests.

Iran supports the Hezbollah militant group, which along with its allies dominates the government and parliament.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said “it is natural for people to be frustrated.” But he said it would be “unacceptable if some individuals, groups and foreign countries use the incident as a pretext for their purposes and intentions”.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz drew a line Monday between the blast and claims that Hezbollah stores its rockets and weapons deep inside civilian areas.

While he did not accuse Hezbollah and its arms of being linked to the blast, Gantz said villages and towns across Lebanon were packed with Hezbollah arms that, if set off — whether by Israeli operations or by accident — would destroy homes.

He said Hezbollah was Lebanon’s biggest problem. 

(Writer: Bassem Mroue) 

Source: https://apnews.com/598da05d3907aa58399c86ff85a9babc