Huge car bomb blast kills 20 in Beirut’s Zahiyeh neighborhood

A huge car bomb blast has rocked the Zahiyeh neighborhood in the southern areas of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Early reports suggest at least 20 people have been killed and 120 injured in the massive explosion which hit the area between Bir el-Abed and Roueiss neighborhoods on Thursday.

The death toll, however, is likely to climb as rescue forces continue to rush to the scene.

The blast occurred in the area where the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has a huge following.

Some 60kg of TNT were used in the car bombing. Civilians are still reported to be trapped in the buildings adjacent to the site of the blast.

A militant group operating in Syria calling itself the Brigades of Aiysha has claimed responsibility for the blast.