Ibrahim Warns of 'Great Explosion' in the Country, Says Tripoli is Still in Danger Zone

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim stated on Thursday that Lebanon is going through one of the “toughest' stages in its modern history, warning of the “great danger” that persists in the northern city of Tripoli.

"Maybe this is one of the most complicated phases on all levels,” Ibrahim said in a statement he gave to the Hizbullah-affiliated al-Ahd website.

He explained: “The Israeli enemy's danger is at the border and the terrorist threat is present inside the country.”

"Both of them are two faces of the same coin.”

Ibrahim stressed that the solution to the “difficult political reality” in the country is achieved by referring to the state's institutions, the constitution and the laws.

In a related matter, the General Security chief described as “dangerous” the current situation in Tripoli.

He added: “Day after day the danger is increasing in Tripoli because of an already planned project for the city and for the entire country.”

"The security plan in the North did not fully succeed and we are still facing many relapses because of the recurring clashes between different factions.”

Ibrahim called for cooperating to confront the “terrorist plan,” warning that otherwise, we will be heading towards a “great explosion.”

At least 23 people were killed and more than 145 others were wounded in a twin blast that took place on Tuesday morning near the Iranian Embassy in the neighborhood of Bir Hassan in Beirut's southern suburbs.

A security official said the first suicide attacker was on a motorcycle that carried two kilograms of explosives. He blew himself up at the large black main gate of the Iranian mission, damaging the three-story facility.

Less than two minutes later, the second suicide attacker driving a car rigged with 50 kilograms of explosives struck about 10 meters away, the official said.

The al-Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to the Twitter page of a cleric linked to the group.

"The Abdullah Azzam brigades - the Hussein bin Ali cells - are behind the attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut," Sheikh Sirajeddine Zuraiqat, the group's religious guide, posted on Twitter.