Lebanon Mourns Burj Al-Barajneh Blasts Martyrs

Lebanon on Friday mourned the 43 people martyred in the terrorist twin blasts which rocked Burj al-Barajneh area in Beirut Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh).

Both public and private schools were ordered closed following a circular issued by Education Minister Elias Bou Saab.

Flags were flown at half mast at the Grand Serail and all public buildings after Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced a national day of mourning.

The blasts which went off in the busy Ain al-Sikkeh neighborhood killed 43 people and injured more than 200 others.

Lebanese Red Cross official George Kettaneh said five of the wounded were in critical condition.

The Lebanese Army said two men wearing suicide vests carried out the attacks. A military statement added that the body of a third suicide attacker who had failed to blow up himself was found at the scene of the second blast.

ISIL Takfiri group (so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lebanon was rocked by a wave of suicide attacks in the years of 2013 and 2014. Dozens of innocent civilians were martyred in the attacks targeted several areas in Dahiyeh and Hermel in Bekaa.