Hizbollah says one of its commanders has been assassinated outside his home in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The militant Shi'ite group said Hassan al Laqqis was killed as he returned from work at around midnight in the Hadath district of the city.

It has not confirmed how he was killed but said: "The accusation is directed at the enemy, Israel."

The group claimed Israel had tried to kill the commander several times before.