Syrian war

Top Lebanese Hezbollah military commander killed in Syria

Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group said Friday that its top military commander Mustafa Badreddine was killed in neighboring Syria, a huge blow to the Shiite group which has played a significant role in the conflict next door.

Hezbollah said in a statement that Badreddine was killed in Syria, where he had been fighting extremist groups, without giving further details.

The Lebanese group has been one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's strongest backers during the country's civil war and has, along with Iran, sent fighters to battle on the government's side.

The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV that is close to the group said he was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Badreddine became the group's top military commander in 2008 after his predecessor Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated in a bomb attack in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

In the past, Israel has killed some of Hezbollah's top commanders. There was no immediate comment from Israel.