Rocket Left Over from 2006 War Explodes in Ouzai

An explosion was heard on Wednesday in al-Ouzai area, which is believed to be caused by the detonation of an old rocket left over from the July war.

Media reports said that the explosion occurred in a junk yard in the area south of Beirut, causing no casualties.

Israel fought a devastating war against Hizbullah in 2006 that cost the lives of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

According to the state-run National News Agency, an army unit arrived swiftly at the scene and arrested the owner of the junk yard.

Al-Jadeed reported earlier that a rocket fell near the Iranian Embassy, which witnessed a double suicide attack on November 19, which killed at least 23 people.

Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said that a rocket propellant exploded after a man from al-Sultan family, who has an authorization from the army, was collecting unexploded rockets near the Iranian embassy.

Security sources and the Iranian embassy denied to LBCI that a rocket fell near its premises.

The bombing was the latest in a series of attacks that have struck Hizbullah strongholds.

An al-Qaida-linked militant group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack — the deadliest targeting Iranian interests since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad began in March 2013.

Iran has been a staunch supporter of Assad's government, and the Iranian-backed Hizbullah has been instrumental in helping his troops flush out insurgents from key areas near the Lebanese border.