DAMASCUS: A prominent commander of Hezbollah was killed in suspected Israeli air strike carried out in Damascus, the Lebanese Shia movement reported on its official channel al-Manar TV here on Sunday.
The deceased commander along with eight others in the strike was identified as Samir Kantar, who had spent years in Israeli prison cells, Hezbollah quoted by foreign media.
On the other hand, Syrian state television claimed that the commander was was killed in a “terror attack” but made no elaboration regarding the attackers.
Kantar’s brother, Bassam, confirmed the death on social media. He said in his Twitter message, ‘With pride, we mourn the martyrdom of the commander Samir Kantar. We have the honour of becoming among the families of martyrs after being among the families of prisoners for 30 years.’
Earlier, Kantar was imprisoned for five life terms plus 47 years for murdering Danny Haran, his four-year-old daughter Einat, and an Israeli policeman while Kantar had denied the murders’ charges. He was released in 2008 as part of prisoner swap with Hezbollah.
