Explosion reported in southern Lebanon, cause unclear - report

Lebanese media reported that an Israeli aircraft was flying over the area around the time of the explosion.

By TZVI JOFFRE
Updated: MARCH 21, 2021 14:51
A SHELL explodes in the village of Bint Jbeil, south Lebanon, on August 30, 2006. Grabin and his soldiers spent days in the town where a neighboring unit suffered casualties. (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
A SHELL explodes in the village of Bint Jbeil, south Lebanon, on August 30, 2006. Grabin and his soldiers spent days in the town where a neighboring unit suffered casualties.
(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
An explosion was reported in the town of Ansariyeh south of Sidon in southern Lebanon on Saturday night, according to Lebanese media. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but photos of fragments of metal allegedly found in the area were published on Sunday morning.
Lebanese media additionally reported that an Israeli aircraft was flying over the area around the time of the explosion. Security forces were heavily deployed in the area and locals could smell gunpowder, according to local reports.
According to the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, the fragments of metal found in the area are in the possession of Hezbollah which is investigating it. The Lebanese television channel LBC reported that the explosion was "likely caused by the explosion of an Israeli reconnaissance plane in the airspace of the region," although most other Lebanese sources reported that the cause was unknown.
Earlier this month, the Lebanese army fired at an Israeli drone flying over an army post in Meiss Ej Jabal, according to Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV. The drone was not hit and no injuries were reported.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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