Hussein al-Laqis was allegedly killed by Israeli forces. Photograph:AFP/Getty Images
Lebanese Shia militants indicate reprisals likely for 'ugly crime'
"The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Wednesday accused Israel of "assassinating" one of its commanders outside his home in southern Beirut.
A statement issued by the group said Hussein al-Laqis was killed as he returned home from work around midnight. It did not say how he died.
Lebanese security officials said assailants opened fire on Laqis with an assault rifle while he was in his car. He was in the car park of the residential building where he lived in the Hadath neighbourhood, some two miles south-west of Beirut, they said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital but died early on Wednesday from his wounds, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The statement accused Israel of responsibility for the killing. It said Israel tried to kill him several times, but had failed.
"The Israeli enemy is naturally directly to blame," the statement said. "This enemy must shoulder complete responsibility and repercussions for this ugly crime and its repeated targeting of leaders and cadres of the resistance."
Hezbollah, which has fought several wars against Israel, has also been fighting alongside Syrian president Bashar Assad's forces in that country's civil war, sparking attacks across neighbouring Lebanon.
Laqis spent his entire life in the Shia group from the time of its inception until the last hours of his death, according to the statement. His son died fighting Israel in the month-long 2006 war."
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