Multiple suicide attacks on Lebanese border village

What is happening?


Four suicide bombers have killed at least six people in an attack in a village in eastern Lebanon which is near the border with Syria.

19 people were injured in the attack in the mostly Christian village of Qaa, which is several kilometres from the border.

#BREAKING: at least 6 killed in 2 suicide #bombings in eastern #Lebanon – Hezbollah's Al Manar TV (file pic) pic.twitter.com/Jskg95ZlKr— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 27, 2016



Civilians targeted


The mayor of Qaa, Bashir Matar, told reporters that those killed were civilians.

Three Lebanese soldiers were among the wounded.

No claims so far


There has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television says the attack was carried out by ISIL militants.

A volatile border region


Lebanon has repeatedly been the target of militant attacks linked to the five-year war in neighbouring Syria.

There have been recent confrontations in the border region between the Lebanese Army and groups like the Al Nusra front and ISIL.

Hezbollah


The powerful Shi’ite group Hezbollah is fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that the group plans to send more fighters to the area in and around Aleppo.

Aleppo


Fighting has intensified in Aleppo in the past few months, after peace talks broke down in Geneva and a ceasefire deal brokered by Washington and Moscow unraveled.

Aleppo city is split between government and rebel control.

What they are saying


“The first attacker detonated his device in front of one of the houses in the village. The occupants gathered outside to see what was happening and it was at this point that the three other attackers struck.” – an unidentified military source.

“At least eight people, including three attackers have been killed and 15 injured.” – Georges Kettaneh, Secretary General of the Lebanese Red Cross.