News - Middle East: A source in the Lebanese Internal Security Forces says a high-ranking official with the Hezbollah resistance movement has been shot and killed by unknown assailants in the country’s Western Beqaa district on the border with Syria.

The unnamed source said unidentified gunmen, traveling in two vehicles, opened fire at Sheikh Mohammed Hammadi while he was standing outside his home in the eastern town of Machghara on Tuesday.

Hammadi sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and was rushed to a hospital in the nearby town of Sohmor. He succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards, and was pronounced dead.

Lebanese army units, in response, quickly cordoned off Machghara, and set up fixed and mobile checkpoints across towns in Western Beqaa. They launched a wide-scale manhunt for the assailants as well.

According to Lebanese security officials, Israeli airstrikes continue to target Machghara town despite the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Israel was forced to accept the ceasefire with the Hezbollah after suffering heavy losses following almost 14 months of fighting and failing to achieve its goals in its aggression on Lebanon.

The truce deal came into effect on November 27. It will last for 60 days in the hope of reaching a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Under the agreement, an international monitoring committee, headed by the United States, is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire.

Source: Press TV