Explosion kills senior militia leader in Syria, striking blow to Hezbollah

BEIRUT - A Hezbollah commander described as the leader of its militia forces in Syria was killed in a mysterious blast in Damascus, the group said Friday.

The explosion targeted a figure noted for a playboy lifestyle and ties to major terror attacks dating to the bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

The death of Mustafa Badreddine is a resounding blow to the Iran-backed group as it reaches beyond its strongholds in Lebanon to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebel factions, including groups backed by America and its allies.

It also highlighted the depth of Hezbollah involvement in Syria, with some of its most senior leaders apparently working closely with Assad and his generals.

No cause of the explosion was cited, and no group claimed responsibility, but a TV station allied with Hezbollah blamed Israel.

Badreddine, 55, is the highest-ranking Hezbollah official killed in the Syria campaign. Among the deadly attacks with which he's been linked: the 1983 assault on the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait and the Beirut bombings that killed 241 American and 58 French troops.

According to U.N. documents, Badreddine used at least two aliases, owned an apartment in an upscale area near Beirut at one time and had several 'concurrent” girlfriends, as well as a boat and an 'expensive Mercedes” registered in other names.

The Syrian conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Hezbollah, with far more than 1,000 of its militants killed.