Hezbollah Jihadi Leader Killed in Damascus
Mustafa Amine Badreddine, a prominent senior Hezbollah commander has been killed in an explosion in Damascus airport in Syria.
His death was later confirmed by Hezbollah. The Lebanese Shia group issued a statement following the announcement of Badreddine’s death that says, “He took part in most of the operations of the Islamic resistance since 1982.” The group described him as “the great jihadi leader.”
Badreddine an Influential Hezbollah Leader
He came under world scrutiny when he was linked to the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in Beirut in 2005. The Hezbollah commander is believed to be an influential figure in Hezbollah’s military wing.
Badreddine was reported to have a special position on Hezbollah’s Shura Council and served as an adviser to the group’s overall leader Hassan Nasrallah.
He was sentenced to death in Kuwait for his role in bomb attacks in 1983. But in 1990, he escaped from prison in Kuwait after Iraq invaded the country.
Badreddine, 55, has a notorious record of terrorism-related activities. In fact, he was on a US sanctions list. Also, the US says Badreddine has been responsible for the group’s military operations in Syria since 2011.
More Dangerous than Mughniyeh
Bedreddine has a prominent relative in Hezbollah’s military wing. He was a cousin and brother-in-law of Imad Mughniyeh, the military wing’s chief who was assassinated by car bomb in Damascus in 2008. The Hezbollah commander was known as Mughniyeh’s teacher in terrorism.
According to a report, a Hezbollah member described Badreddine as “more dangerous” than Mughniyeh. Both were allegedly collaborating together on the deadly US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut that killed 241 people in October 1983.
Hezbollah Background
Hezbollah is known as the Party of God and is supported by Iran. It is a Shia Islamist political, military and social organisation that commands power in Lebanon.
The group emerged and made a name with the help of Iran during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s.
In addition, Hezbollah is fighting in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad. The group has sent thousands of fighters into Syria.
