This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35144483
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Lebanese militant Samir Qantar killed in rocket strike in Syria | Lebanese militant Samir Qantar killed in rocket strike in Syria |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Key Lebanese militant Samir Qantar has been killed in a rocket strike near the Syrian capital, Damascus, Hezbollah has said. | Key Lebanese militant Samir Qantar has been killed in a rocket strike near the Syrian capital, Damascus, Hezbollah has said. |
The Lebanese Shia militant group blamed Israel for the air strike. | The Lebanese Shia militant group blamed Israel for the air strike. |
Qantar was jailed in Israel in 1979 for a notorious deadly attack, and freed as part of a controversial prisoner swap with Hezbollah in 2008. | Qantar was jailed in Israel in 1979 for a notorious deadly attack, and freed as part of a controversial prisoner swap with Hezbollah in 2008. |
An Israeli minister welcomed his death but did not confirm that Israel was responsible. | An Israeli minister welcomed his death but did not confirm that Israel was responsible. |
When asked about Israeli involvement, Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Gallant told Israel Radio: "I am not confirming or denying anything to do with this matter." | When asked about Israeli involvement, Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Gallant told Israel Radio: "I am not confirming or denying anything to do with this matter." |
But he added: "It is good that people like Samir Qantar will not be part of our world." | But he added: "It is good that people like Samir Qantar will not be part of our world." |
Later on Sunday, at least two rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, Lebanese security forces told AFP news agency. | |
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said three rockets struck open areas, with no reports yet of damage or injuries. | |
Qantar was known as the "dean of Lebanese prisoners" for the time he spent imprisoned in Israel. | Qantar was known as the "dean of Lebanese prisoners" for the time he spent imprisoned in Israel. |
He was convicted of murder over an attack on a civilian apartment block in Nahariya in 1979, carried out when he was 16. | He was convicted of murder over an attack on a civilian apartment block in Nahariya in 1979, carried out when he was 16. |
Two policemen, a man and his four-year-old daughter were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard. | Two policemen, a man and his four-year-old daughter were killed. A baby girl was accidentally smothered by her mother as she hid in a cupboard. |
He was accused of killing the four-year-old girl with a rifle butt, which he denied. | He was accused of killing the four-year-old girl with a rifle butt, which he denied. |
His release in 2008 in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in 2006 was highly controversial. | His release in 2008 in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in 2006 was highly controversial. |
Qantar is believed to have become a key figure in Hezbollah since his release. | Qantar is believed to have become a key figure in Hezbollah since his release. |
Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters to fight alongside troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's conflict. | Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters to fight alongside troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's conflict. |
In September, the US state department designated him a terrorist saying he had become one of Hezbollah's "most visible and popular spokesmen". | In September, the US state department designated him a terrorist saying he had become one of Hezbollah's "most visible and popular spokesmen". |
"Since Qantar's return, he has also played an operational role, with the assistance of Iran and Syria, in building up Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in the Golan Heights," it said. | "Since Qantar's return, he has also played an operational role, with the assistance of Iran and Syria, in building up Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in the Golan Heights," it said. |
The rockets hit a residential building in Jaramana near Damascus on Saturday night. The area is a stronghold of government supporters. | The rockets hit a residential building in Jaramana near Damascus on Saturday night. The area is a stronghold of government supporters. |
The Assad loyalist group, the National Defence Forces in Jaramana, said: "Two Israeli warplanes carried out the raid which targeted the building in Jaramana and struck the designated place with four long-range missiles." | The Assad loyalist group, the National Defence Forces in Jaramana, said: "Two Israeli warplanes carried out the raid which targeted the building in Jaramana and struck the designated place with four long-range missiles." |
Israel is believed to have carried out a number of attacks inside Syria during its civil conflict, targeting Hezbollah. | Israel is believed to have carried out a number of attacks inside Syria during its civil conflict, targeting Hezbollah. |