Israel says top Hezbollah militant accused of killing US soldiers slain

The Israeli military said Sunday that its forces had killed a senior Hezbollah militant accused of involvement in the kidnapping and killing of five American soldiers in Iraq in 2007.

Ali Mussa Daqduq was killed on Friday in a "precise strike" south of the Litani River in Lebanon, the military said.

"Over the past several years, Daqduq led much of Hezbollah's operational planning against IDF soldiers along the Lebanon border," the military said.

"In 2007, he was imprisoned by US forces after orchestrating the kidnapping and murder of five American soldiers" in Iraq, the military added.

He was held by American troops until he was handed over to Iraqi officials in December 2011.

In 2012, Daqduq was released by Iraq due to lack of evidence after being accused of plotting to kill the US soldiers in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

Following his release, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on him.

"His elimination constitutes another significant blow to Hezbollah's senior chain of command by eliminating one of the most prominent operatives responsible for terrorist activity against Israeli civilians, IDF soldiers, and American service members."

According to the Israeli military, Daqduq held several senior positions within Hezbollah in recent years, including as commander of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's security unit and head of the group's infantry unit.