Dozens killed as twin blasts rock S. Beirut

BEIRUT, Lebanon

Daesh claimed responsibility for the twin blasts that killed at least 37 people and injured 180 others in Beirut on Thursday evening.

The explosions shook the Lebanese capital’s southern Burg al-Bragna neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The casualty toll was confirmed by a source within Lebanese Red Cross, which initially put it at 35 people dead.

The Lebanese military claimed in a statement that two suicide bombers were behind the attack, adding that a third bomber was found dead at the second explosion site.

According to the statement, the first blast happened at around 6 p.m., local time on Ain al-Sikka Road in the Burg al-Bragna district, followed shortly with a second blast nearby. Several houses and buildings on the road were damaged badly in the attack, it added.

Daesh issued a statement online claiming responsibility for the attacks. The statement was issued on websites and social media accounts close to the militant group. The attacks targeted Hezbollah, it said.

The group identified the suicide bombers as Hamid Rashid al-Belig from Palestine, and Khaled Ahmed al-Khaled from Syria.

The Minister of National Education, Elias Bou Saab, said that public offices and schools would be closed on Friday "in solidarity with the victims".

Saab made the statement after a meeting with the Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam.