A former Jordanian intelligence chief was killed outside his home near the capital Amman late Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported.

General Habis al-Hanini was shot three times in the chest and died when he arrived at the hospital, doctor Hasan Ahmad al-Bawarid told Al Jazeera.

Petra News Agency, Jordan’s state-owned news outlet, said a manhunt is currently ongoing.

"The search for the killer of retired general Habis al-Hanini is still underway," the news agency reported citing a security source.

#breaking General (Ret’d) Habes Samir Al-Hanini was shot dead outside his house in Maedaba, Jordan. He was a former senior official in Jordanian intelligence. He was shot multiple times in the chest according to multiple sources. The motive is unknown. — Mercedes Stephenson (@MercedesGlobal) October 23, 2018

Hanini specialised in counter-terrorism and was respected for his work by the global intelligence community.

A CIA officer told Al Jazeera that Hanini was an "extremely smart intelligence officer" who "really understood the underpinning of why individuals join extremist groups".

Hanini reportedly retired from Jordan's General Directorate of Intelligence a year ago, according to a Jordanian intelligence official.

This marks the first time that a high-ranking Jordanian intelligence official has been killed, Al Jazeera reported.