Latest bombing in Lebanon condemned by Hezbollah

Hezbollah and the Lebanese military both condemned a weekend car-bomb explosion in Hermel that killed two soldiers and a civilian. A militant group with links to al-Qaida took responsibility for the explosion Saturday at a checkpoint, which also injured 18 people. "This latest crime proves that such terrorism is not looking for causes or reasons to carry out its crimes, and that it is a danger for the whole of Lebanon," Hezbollah said in a written statement, which also called the bombers "the enemy of all Lebanese." The army said it was "paying the price in blood" for its role in fighting terrorism. The bomb was the third to explode in Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, Middle East Online said. Hezbollah is backing the regime in neighboring Syria, which is locked in a bloody battle with rebel forces that include al-Qaida backed fighters. Middle East Online said Sunni Muslin extremists have seen the Lebanese military as being allied with rival Hezbollah.