Israel denies involvement in Iran embassy attacks in Beirut

JERUSALEM – Israeli officials denied their country was involved in the twin bombings on Tuesday morning outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut, which left 23 dead and 146 others injured.

Following the explosions, Iranian embassador to Lebanon said it was “without any doubt” that the “Zionists” were behind the deadly attacks.

But the ambassador revised his statement shortly after, saying when he said “Zionists”, he meant “those who serve the Israeli interests.”

Tzachi Hanegbi, chairman of the Knesset’s (parliament) Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, said he completely denies Israel’s possible involvement in such an act.

“We are blamed for everything that happens in the Middle East. Sometimes there are things we take responsibility for, because they have to do with Israel’s security, … but Israel’s security gains nothing from the bloodshed in Beirut,” the lawmaker from the Likud party said.

“This is a result of the tensions in Lebanon following the Hezbollah’s decision to participate in Assad’s efforts to survive in Syria,” he argued.

Another Israeli official who asked to remain anonymous reiterated his stance to Xinhua that “Israel is not behind these attacks and has nothing to do with it… We will never carry out such attacks in an Arab capital and when we do mark targets. They are weapons, not innocent civilians.”

Throughout Tuesday, an organization called “Abdullah Azam Battalions” claimed responsibility for the attacks, an organization affiliated with the terrorist network of Al-Qaida.