Hezbollah Lebanon confirmed the death of Samir Qantar, a senior member of Hezbollah, due to an Israeli rocket attack near Damascus, the capital of Syria. Samir Qantar, who was released in 2008 during a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah, had killed three Israeli citizens, including a four-year-old girl. After his release, he became a high-ranking military figure in Hezbollah and was placed on the U.S. terrorist blacklist in September. Washington stated that Qantar was active in the Golan Heights in favor of Hezbollah in collaboration with Iran and Syria. Hezbollah Lebanon announced in a statement that Samir Qantar was killed on Saturday night (December 19) following an Israeli air operation and a rocket hitting the building where he lived in Jaramana, located south of Damascus. The Syrian state news agency, SANA, also reported on what it called Qantar's 'martyrdom' in a 'terrorist' operation by Israel. This news agency published a photo showing forces supporting Bashar al-Assad next to the destroyed building where Samir Qantar lived. Ayelet Shaked, Israel's Minister of Justice, stated in an interview with Israeli radio that she does not confirm the news but is 'happy' to hear it. Samir Qantar was the oldest Arab prisoner in Israel, arrested in 1979 at the age of 16 while conducting an operation with three other members of the 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine' in the settlement of Nahariya in northern Palestine. In this operation, he killed a police officer and a 28-year-old Israeli man named Danny Haran, and also crushed the skull of his four-year-old daughter with the butt of his rifle. However, Israeli police managed to arrest him, and he was sentenced to four life sentences and 47 years in prison for the murder of three Israeli citizens. After his release, he was welcomed as a hero in Lebanon and was fighting alongside Iranian soldiers in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad's forces. In this context, an Israeli official held Iran responsible for the rocket attack from Syria to Israel.
Senior Hezbollah Member Killed Near Damascus
Samir Qantar, a senior Hezbollah member, was killed in an Israeli rocket attack near Damascus. His death highlights ongoing tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran, especially in the context of military operations in Syria. This incident may escalate the already volatile situation in the region.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Israel conducted a rocket attack killing senior Hezbollah member Samir Qantar near Damascus.
- Israel attack Samir Qantar
- Hezbollah Lebanon announce Samir Qantar
- United States designate Samir Qantar
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The death of Qantar signifies a significant blow to Hezbollah's military leadership.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%