A Hezbollah flag hangs on yellow police tape sealing off the scene where Hassan al-Laqis, a senior commander for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was gunned down outside his home, some two miles (three kilometers) southwest of Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday, December 4, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Hussein Malla)
Statement warns Israel will ‘bear consequences’ after rocket commander Hassan al-Laqis shot dead; Israel denies involvement; Lebanese media claim previous hit attempt on Laqis during 2006 war failed
(SOURCE) Lebanese Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah on Wednesday accused Israel of assassinating a top operative outside his home overnight.
A statement released by Hezbollah said Hassan al-Laqis was killed near his house in Beirut as he was coming home from work.
Voice of Lebanon Radio reported he was in his Jeep Cherokee in front of his home when he was killed.
Lebanese security officials said assailants opened fire on Laqis with an assault rifle while he was in his car, around midnight. He was in the parking lot of the residential building where he lived, in the Hadath neighborhood, some two miles (three kilometers) southwest of Beirut, they said.
According to Lebanese media, three assailants were involved in the attack.
Hassan al-Laqis in an undated photo distributed by Hezbollah.
Laqis was rushed to a nearby hospital but died early Wednesday from his wounds, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The Hezbollah statement accused Israel of being responsible for the killing.
“Israel is automatically held completely responsible for this heinous crime,” the statement said.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied Israeli involvement.
“Israel has nothing to do with this incident,” Palmor said. “These automatic accusations are an innate reflex with Hezbollah. They don’t need evidence, they don’t need facts; they just blame anything on Israel.”
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