Hezbollah fighter dies of wounds sustained in south Lebanon arms depot blast

A Hezbollah fighter Sunday died of wounds sustained from an explosion that rocked the south Lebanon village of Ain Qana, nearly one week ago.
2 min read
28 September, 2020
A Hezbollah fighter died of wounds sustained in an explosion [Getty]

A Hezbollah fighter died of wounds sustained in an explosion that rocked one of the militant group's sites in a village south of Lebanon last week. 

The Iran-backed group announced the death of Ali Najib Mroue in a statement issued on Sunday, without elaborating on the cause of death.

Local media reported that Mroue died of wounds sustained in the 22 September explosion on the outskirts of Ain Qala, citing security sources.

Only limited information about the explosion in the southern Nabatieh district has been released by authorities.

It is believed to have been caused by "a technical error" inside an alleged Hezbollah arms depot. The area was quickly cordoned off after the explosion.

Although no official count of causalities has been reported, local sources say at least four people have died.

Footage shared on social media showed a huge plume of dark grey smoke rising from the site of the explosion.

The Iran-backed group added that the building belonged to a "Hezbollah-affiliated de-mining association" and that the weapons stored there were "left behind from wars".

Hezbollah is the only Lebanese non-state armed group not to have disarmed after the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

It has fought several wars with neighbouring Israel, Iran's arch-enemy.

Lebanon is still reeling from a massive explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate at Beirut's port last month that killed over 190 people, wounded thousands and ravaged swathes of the capital.

The blast led to the Lebanese government's resignation and a new cabinet line-up has yet to be agreed.

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