BEIRUT: Hezbollah described Friday’s suicide bombing in Damascus as part of a larger U.S. plan to destabilize the country, while Lebanon’s foreign minister said the explosion was the beginning of further “terrorist operations” beyond Syria’s borders.

In a statement released hours after an explosion ripped through Syria’s capital, Hezbollah said the attack “was the second installment of the evil plan of America and forces under its control in our region to punish Syria for its position beside the resistance against the Zionist enemy.”

“It is evidence of the magnitude of the fierce attack faced by Syria that targets its security and stability,” Hezbollah added.

Syria’s television said a suicide bomber in Maidan district in Damascus killed 25 people Friday and wounded 46 others in the third such attack in Damascus in a month.

On Dec. 23 at least 44 people were killed by two suicide bombings that targeted security buildings in the Syrian capital, according to Syrian  officials. 

Hezbollah, Syria’s ally in Lebanon, also said that the attack is evidence of the presence of forces who do not want to see reform in Syria or resolve the crisis in that country.

The attack occurred two days before an Arab League committee was set to discuss an initial report by Arab observers monitoring Syria's compliance with an Arab deal aimed at ending President Bashar Assad's crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour said the explosion in Syria is the beginning of future terrorist operations beyond Syria’s borders.

“Once more, the ugly face of terrorism hits the Syrian capital of Damascus, indicating a new, critical stage for Syria and opening doors and making way for terrorist operations to infiltrate areas and expand beyond borders,” Mansour said in a statement, condemning the suicide bombing.

“We all have confidence that with the awareness of the Syrian people and leadership of what is being sowed against Syria and the region, they will be able to stifle sedition and undermine the roots of terrorism,” he added.