Hezbollah has announced that one of its leading commanders was assassinated on Tuesday night outside his Beirut home, blaming Israel for the killing.
Hussein al-Lakkis was Hezbollah’s technology and arms chief and maintained extensive contacts with Iranian and Syrian intelligence.
Lebanese security officials said assailants shot al-Laqis with an assault rifle while he was in his car. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died early Wednesday from his wounds.
Beyrut'ta gece yarısı evinin önünde öldürülen Hizbullah komutanı Hassan El Lakis.. pic.twitter.com/5y3Hbeb46T
— إسماعيل ياشا (@ismail_yasa) December 4, 2013
“Around 12 A.M. overnight Hussein al-LakKis was assassinated near his house in Sainte Thérèse neighborhood in Hadath while he was on his way back from his work,” an official Hezbollah statement said:
The Israeli enemy tried to kill Lakkis many times …but its attempts have failed until this foul assassination overnight.
This enemy should bear full responsibility and all the consequences of this heinous crime.
West Jerusalem denied any responsibility.
“Israel had nothing to do with it,” said Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Two defense officers said the same to the US outlet Buzzfeed.
Lebanese sources unconnected with Hezbollah said that it is unclear who is responsible for the assassination.
The killing came hours after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Saudi Arabia was responsible for last month’s double suicide bombing that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.
Nasrallah’s allegation was the first time that Hezbollah has openly accused Riyadh.
He also said Saudi intelligence was behind the escalation of attacks in Iraq.