Hizbullah is reporting that high-ranking commander Mustafa Amine Badreddine, 55, was killed near Damascus in what Hizbullah sources are calling an Israel Air Force Strike. The announcement came early Friday morning 5 Iyar.

Reports state that Badreddine assumed the command slot held by his brother-in-law, Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated in 2008, which Hizbullah also attributed to Israel.

There is no comment from official sources in Jerusalem but reports from Syria and Lebanon are confirming the death of the senior Hizbullah commander.

UPDATE: Israel Radio Reshet Bet reports that despite earlier reports to the contrary, in official statements Hizbullah is not pointing a finger of blame at Israel for the assassination.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)