Unknown assailants shot dead a former member of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army (SLA) on Sunday, security officials said, three days after Amer Fakhoury, a jailed Lebanese-American man who belonged to the same militia, was released in Beirut and flown to the US.
Two Lebanese security officials said Antoine Hayek was killed with several bullets from a pistol equipped with a silencer inside his grocery store in the southern village of Mieh Mieh, near the port city of Sidon.
According to Lebanese media, Hayek had been a warden at the Khiam prison run by the SLA during Israel's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000.
Fakhoury had been jailed in Lebanon since September and charged with murder and torture of prisoners at the same prison. A Lebanese judge ordered him released last week, saying more than 10 years had passed since the alleged crimes.
US officials confirmed Fakhoury was aboard a US Marine V-22 Osprey seen taking off from the US Embassy compound in Awkar near Beirut on Thursday.
Local media outlets reported that Hayek had been close to Fakhoury.
Hayek, a 58-year-old retired policeman, also reportedly worked as a warden at the Khiam prison during Israel's occupation.
Hundreds of SLA members fled to Israel, including Fakhoury, fearing reprisals if they remained in Lebanon. Others stayed and faced trial, receiving lenient sentences.
Hayek was one of those who stayed in Lebanon and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
