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Hezbollah blames Israel for top commander's death in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Hezbollah accused Israel of killing one of its top commanders outside his home in Beirut, Lebanon, but Israel denied the allegation.

"The Israeli enemy tried to kill [Hassan] al-Laqqis many times ... but its attempts failed until this foul assassination overnight," the Daily Star quoted a Hezbollah statement Wednesday as saying. "This enemy should bear full responsibility and all the consequences of this heinous crime."

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Israel denied any involvement.

"Israel has nothing to do with the incident. 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," Ma'ariv quoted Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor as saying.

The Voice of Lebanon radio station Tuesday reported al-Laqqis was shot five times while in his car outside his Beirut home, Naharnet said. He died hours later from his wounds.

Al-Laqqis was said to be a close confidante of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and was described as a "jihadist leader who sacrificed his life."

Israeli security officials told Israel Radio al-Laqqis was a top logistics commander in Hezbollah and responsible for purchasing its rockets and weapons.

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