Unknown assailants shot dead a former member of an Israeli-backed Lebanese militia on Sunday, security officials said.

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The execution came three days after a jailed Lebanese-American man who belonged to the same militia was released in Beirut and flown to the U.S.

Al Khiam prison in Lebanon ( Credit: Courtesy )

Two Lebanese security officials said on condition of anonymity that 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 a prison run by the South Lebanon Army militia during Israel's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000.

The Lebanese-American man, Amer Fakhoury, had been jailed in Lebanon since September and charged with murder and torture of prisoners at the same SLA-run prison - charges he denied.

Amer Fakhoury was imprisoned in Lebanon for cooperation with Israel ( Photo: AP )

A Lebanese judge ordered him released last week, saying more than 10 years had passed since the alleged crimes.

U.S. officials confirmed Fakhoury was aboard a U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey seen taking off from the U.S. Embassy compound northeast of Beirut on Thursday.

Fakhoury's case had significantly strained the already troubled ties between the U.S. and Lebanon.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the powerful Hezbollah militant group, called Fakhoury's release and exit from Lebanon a "blatant violation" of the country's sovereignty and laws. Lawmakers from Fakhoury's home state of New Hampshire had called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him.

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 SLA-run Khiam prison during Israel's occupation.

Protester holding photo of Fakhoury in front of former Israeli-run Khiyam prison to demand his trial ( Photo: AFP )

Human rights groups have described the prison as a center for torture.

Lebanon's intelligence service said Fakhoury confessed during questioning to being a warden there.

Fakhoury's family in the U.S. and lawyer, however, said that although he was a SLA member, he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture. Fakhoury became a U.S. citizen last year.

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.

No one claimed responsibility for Hayek's shooting.

Hasan Hijazi, a former inmate at Khiam prison, tweeted Sunday about his experience there. He said Hayek would flog prisoners with a whip and "turn detainees into a punching bag, and beat and kick them."