The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Israeli air-to-ground missiles kills top Hizbullah commander in Syria’s Golan Heights

he air force was said to have fired air-to-ground missiles that killed Jihad Mughniyeh on Jan. 18 near the village of Mizrat Al Amal. Mughniyeh was identified as Hizbullah’s commander in the Syrian portion of the Golan Heights

They were on a reconnaissance mission in [Syria’s] Quneitra province,” Hizbullah said.

The Israel Air Force was said to have sent attack helicopters over Quneitra, 90 percent of which is controlled by Islamic rebel militias. Lebanese sources said four other Hizbullah officers were killed, including Mohammed Issa.

Another casualty was identified as Abu Al Al Tabtabai, the commander for the Golan Heights for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.

This marked the first confirmation by Hizbullah that it was operating in the Golan Heights. In late 2014, Israeli sources said Hizbullah took over at least one Druse village in the Quneitra province and was planning attacks on
Islamic rebels.

“A group of Hizbullah holy warriors were martyred in a Zionist rocket attack on Quneitra, and their names will be revealed later,” Hizbullah said.

Mughniyeh, the son of the late Hizbullah operational chief Imad Mughniyeh, was said to have been close to secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. Lebanese sources said Jihad Mughniyeh, in his 20s, was appointed Hizbullah’s commander for the Golan Heights in October 2014.

The Israeli military refused to confirm the air strike on the alleged Hizbullah convoy. But an official said the Israel Air Force was ordered to strike an unidentified enemy force in Quneitra that was planning to fire rockets into the Jewish state.

Lebanese media said the Hizbullah convoy was aided by the National Defense Forces, a militia sponsored by the regime of President Bashar Assad. The media said one Hizbullah vehicle was destroyed and another was damaged.

“Three members from the regime forces and a militiaman from Hezbullah died during aerial bombardment carried out by an Israeli aircraft targeting a house and two cars in front of it in the farmland of Amal in the countryside of Quneitera,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

 

http://www.worldtribune.com/2015/01/19/israeli-air-ground-missiles-kills-top-hizbullah-commander-syrias-golan-heights/