At least 18 people were wounded when a car bomb went off in Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday, security sources said.br br Tensions in Lebanon have been high following the intervention of Hezbollah in support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces fighting a two-year revolt led by Syria's Sunni Muslim majority.br br A large fire raged at the site of the blast, which apparently targeted a shopping mall in the Bir al-Abed area. The area is also home to many Hezbollah political offices.br br Hezbollah gunmen cordoned off the area of the blast, which damaged cars and buildings.