“One of the leaders of the Islamic Resistance Hajj Hassan Hawlo al-Lakkis was assassinated outside his house in St. Therese, Hadath, as he returned from work last night,” the statement said on Wednesday.

Hezbollah accused Israel of being behind the assassination, saying the Jewish regime has tried to kill Lakkis in the past.

"The Israeli enemy tried to kill Lakkis many times ...but its attempts have failed until this foul assassination overnight," the party said.

“This enemy should bear full responsibility and all the consequences of this heinous crime,” Hezbollah threatened.

The comments come a day after Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah accused Saudi Arabian intelligence of being behind last month’s twin suicide bombings, which targeted Iranian embassy in the Lebanese capital.

The bombings on November 19 killed 25 people. An al-Qaeda-linked group claimed credit for the attack.

BA/BA