BEIRUT, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The leader of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front group in the border region between Syria and Lebanon, Abu Malek al-Talli, might have been killed in a strike Wednesday in the outskirts of the Lebanese border town of Arsal, media reports said on Thursday.
"Lebanese army helicopters targeted the posts of the Islamic State group in Ras Baalbek's outskirts as the army's artillery targeted cars carrying Nusra Front leaders in Arsal's outskirts," the MTV reported.
"A senior military official confirmed significant casualties among al-Nusra's leaders but could not confirm whether Abu Malek al-Talli was among the victims," the TV station added.
The source however noted that there is a "large probability" that al-Talli was hit in the strike.
The MTV published pictures of alleged missiles that the army's air force reportedly fired on al-Talli's convoy.
Some of the writings on the missiles read "For the Tears of Every Mother" and "For Martyr First Lieutenant Nadim Semaan."
An army statement issued Wednesday evening said President Michel Aoun visited the Army Command's headquarters in Yarze to "watch a live broadcast of the special operation that was carried out by Air Force helicopters against the terrorist groups in the outskirts of the Arsal and Ras Baalbek areas."
