By Faith Karimi, CNN

Lebanese army soldiers gather at the scene of Thursday’s twin suicide bombings in Burj al-Barajneh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Schools and universities across Lebanon were shuttered Friday as the country mourned victims of twin suicide bombings that struck a crowded neighborhood south of the capital. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Relatives carry the coffin of Ibrahim Ali Abdo, who was killed in the two explosions that occurred on Thursday, during his funeral in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November

Lebanese army soldiers stand guard at the site of Thursday’s twin suicide bombings in Burj al-Barajneh, southern Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Schools and universities across Lebanon were shuttered Friday as the country mourned victims of twin suicide bombings that struck a crowded neighborhood south of the capital. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

A Lebanese army soldier walks past damaged motorbikes at the site of the two explosions that occurred on Thursday in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November 13, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban

Residents inspect a burnt vehicle at the site of the two explosions that occurred on Thursday in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November 13, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban

Boys stand on merchandises from damaged shops at the site of the two explosions that occurred on Thursday in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November 13, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban

Lebanese forensic police and security forces inspect the site of a twin bomb attack that rocked a busy shopping street in a Beirut stronghold of Lebanon’s Shiite movement Hezbollah, the day after the attack on November 13, 2015 (AFP Photo)

Lebanese army soldiers, police and officials inspect the damage at the site of the two explosions that occured on Thursday in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, November 13, 2015. Lebanon observed a national day of mourning on Friday after two suicide bombs the day before killed 43 people in southern Beirut, in an act the United Nations condemned overnight as "despicable." REUTERS/Aziz Taher

At least 43 people died Thursday when a pair of suicide bombings hit the Lebanese capital. More than 200 others were wounded.

Lebanon appears to be the latest nation victimized by ISIS’ wrath following the militant group’s claim of responsibility for the attack. Here are details about what’s going on in Lebanon:

Who is to blame?

While the government has not named the attackers, the terror group ISIS is proudly thumping its chest.

A would-be suicide bomber who survived the attack told investigators he was an ISIS recruit. The Lebanese national said he and three other attackers arrived in Lebanon from Syria two days ago, according to a source.

Lebanese intelligence officials said the bombers could be part of a cell dispatched to Beirut by ISIS leadership, but investigators are working to verify the surviving suspect’s claim.

ISIS is also purportedly circulating a statement on social media claiming responsibility for the blasts. CNN hasn’t confirmed the authenticity of the statement.

By Hugh Naylor

BEIRUT — Twin suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State killed dozens of people and wounded more than 200 in Beirut on Thursday, raising fears of intensified attempts by the radical Sunni group to undermine Lebanon’s fragile stability.

In the worst attack to hit the Lebanese capital in years, assailants targeted a southern suburb where many loyalists of the powerful Shiite Hezbollah militia live. The explosions killed at least 43 people, officials said, and left little doubt that the attackers struck with the intent of stirring up Lebanon’s volatile sectarian divisions.

Hezbollah is fighting alongside Syrian government forces against the Sunni-led rebellion in Syria, drawing the ire of such militantly anti-Shiite groups as the Islamic State. Lebanon faced a string of similar bombings more than a year ago that also targeted the largely Shiite areas of Beirut.

By bassem mroue, associated press A Lebanese official says the death toll from a twin suicide bombing that struck a Shiite suburb in southern Beirut has reached 16. George Kittaneh, head of the Lebanese Red Cross operations, told Lebanon’s LBC television that along with the 26 killed, the Thursday evening attack also left 40 wounded. […]

Natasha Bertrand

In an effort to increase its negotiating leverage during Syria peace talks in Vienna, the Obama administration has adopted a combined military and diplomatic approach that resembles a strategy employed last year to strong-arm Iran into negotiating with the West over its nuclear program.

In Syria, as in Iran, Washington is trying to pressure defiant parties into accepting the West’s terms by changing facts on the ground.

With Iran, it was economic sanctions, an increased military presence in the Persian Gulf, and a covert intelligence war. With Syria, it is a timeline for the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the (perhaps symbolic) deployment of 50 special-operations forces to northeastern Syria to help local elements fight ISIS, and a covert CIA program to arm moderate Syrian rebels with antitank missiles.

by Alex Griswold

The French have scrapped a state dinner with the leader of Iran after the Iranian delegation took issue with the menu, including the serving of wine.

Presidents François Hollande and Hassan Rouhani were all set to have dinner during Rouhani’s tour of Europe this weekend. But dinner was scrapped after the Iranians demanded that it conform to Islamic dietary standards: meaning halal meat and, crucially, no alcohol.

The French, who have a strong tradition of strict secularism in government affairs, balked at the request. They suggested instead a meatless and alcohol-free breakfast, but the Iranians found that “cheap” and too informal. Instead, the two leaders will meet in a face-to-face chat, sans food or alcohol at all.

By AP

By Abigail James (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – The 200 children were forced to lie stretched out in the dirt side-by-side in a single long line. At least 12 gunmen, armed with assault rifles and handguns, are seen standing behind the children.

The first militant opens fire at "point blank range" shooting each child, making his way down the row. The other militants then begin shooting causing the area to fill with dust, clouding the camera’s vision. A clear sustained sound of gunfire can be heard throughout the entire original recording.

By Joseph A. KechichianSenior Writer – Gulf news

Beirut: The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, was adamant that his call to hold a regular legislative session was legal, despite the possibility that several Christian parties remained ambivalent about any participation.

Aware that a boycott may derail sorely needed legislation to curtail money laundering, boost the country’s banking sector, and further secure $600 million worth of key World Bank development funds, the Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea vowed that his party would not disrupt the Speaker’s contemplated initiatives. Geagea’s LF and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) accepted the compromise formula advanced by the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bisharah Al Ra‘i, who urged parliament to adopt several “technical actions” dealing specifically with financial laws.

By Robert Fadel Lebanese Member of Parliament

Few will forget the tragic image of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who drowned as his family attempted to flee to Europe. His death came to symbolize the desperation gripping millions as they escape one of the worst humanitarian crises of this generation. As his image was displayed by media outlets around the world, it forced European leaders to re-examine their response to the deplorable situation. Yet, several emergency summits later, Europe continues to remain short sighted in its plan for tackling the problem, ineffective and ambivalent in its reaction. Europe will only prevent the issue from deteriorating further by working with countries like Lebanon, to implement solutions where the issue originates.