A series of explosions ripped though a building in a southern Lebanese town located near the border with Israel on Friday, according to officials and local news reports.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) confirmed later that the explosions occurred in a three-storied building the town of Shehabiyye, just south of the Litani River
The NNA report said the fire triggered by the explosions have been extinguished, and added that the Lebanese army has launched an investigation into the incident after cordoning off the area.
Fire fighters and ambulances rushed to the scene following the explosion, which reportedly destroyed the building partially located on the outskirts of the town.
Meanwhile, several other local news reports speculated that the explosions occurred in an arms depot controlled by the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah.
Reports said the building was rocked by at least three explosions, but such claims are yet to be confirmed by the Hezbollah or the Lebanese government.
The town of Shehabiyye is a strong-hold of the Hezbollah, which fought a 33-day war with Israel in 2006. That war, which left more than 1200 people dead in Lebanon and 160 in Israel, was prompted by the capture of the two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid by the Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it has yet to receive any information on Friday's explosions in the town of Shehabiyye, an area currently under the control of the UN force.
The UNIFIL was formed in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. It was later expanded in 2006 to restore international peace and security, and to assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area.
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