No US, Coalition Aircraft in Area Where Hezbollah Commander Was Killed

The White House spokesman said no US or coalition aircraft operated in the area where Hezbollah's top military commander was reportedly killed.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — There were no US or coalition aircraft in the area where Hezbollah’s top military commander Mustafa Badreddine was reportedly killed in Syria, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said during a press briefing on Friday.

"We’ve seen the reports of his death. I can’t independently confirm them. I can confirm that there were no US or coalition aircraft in the area where he was reported to be killed," Earnest told reporters.

Hezbollah, a paramilitary and political organization originating in Lebanon's Shiite population, was established in the 1980s. The group has been fighting alongside the Syrian government against Daesh terrorists and other extremist militant groups since 2011.

Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by a number of countries including Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and many European states, but not by Russia.