(IsraelNN.com) General Mohammed Suleiman, the senior aide to Syrian President Bashar Assad who was assassinated nine days ago, supplied advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Hizbullah, according to sources quoted by the Times of London. Suleiman was killed by a bullet from a silencer in the northern Syrian port of Tartus.

Suspects in the killing include elements within the Syrian government, which underwent a purge following the February assassination of Imad Mughibyeh. Fingers also are being pointed at Israel, which recently has warned Syria it is crossing "the red line" by supplying Hizbullah with weapons.