Assassination of Imad Mughniyeh

Assassination of Imad Mughniyeh
Part of Hezbollah–Israel conflict and Iran–Israel proxy conflict
LocationKafr Sousa, Damascus, Syria
Date12 February 2008
22:20[1] (UTC+2)
TargetImad Mughniyeh
Attack type
car bomb
Victims1
Accused Israel
 United States

On 12 February 2008, Imad Mughniyeh, a senior commander of Hezbollah, the political party and armed militia in Lebanon, was assassinated in a car bomb explosion in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood of Damascus.[2] Mughniyeh had a long history of fighting the Israel Defense Forces and was a top target for Tel Aviv. Mughniyeh actively participated in the 2006 Lebanon War.[3] Mughniyeh, who was on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list,[4] was killed instantly when the explosive device detonated in a Mitsubishi Pajero.

His son Jihad would become a member of the party and was killed in a raid on Mazraat al-Amal in Quneitra during the Syrian civil war. Imad Mughniyeh was initially involved in the Palestinian Fatah movement during the Lebanese civil war before Hezbollah was founded in 1982.[2] The assassination was characterized as a significant security lapse and a notable intelligence achievement for Israel, sparking suspicions of potential betrayal within the Damascus regime, particularly given that the incident occurred in a zone housing security headquarters.

Following the assassination, a joint Iranian-Syrian investigation committee was formed, coinciding with the visit of Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.[5] In 2010, WikiLeaks reported that Hezbollah believed Syria was involved in Mughniyeh's assassination.[6]

Hezbollah appointed a successor to Imad Mughniyeh, whose identity was not revealed.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "الليلة المظلمة: كيف اغتال الموساد عمـاد مغنية؟" [The Dark Night: How did the Mossad assassinate Imad Mughniyeh?] (in Arabic). 19 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b Black, Ian (14 February 2008). "Car bomb ends life of Hizbullah chief wanted for string of kidnappings and mass murders". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "Hizbullah: Mughniyeh was key commander in 2006 Lebanon war". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 27 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Report: Reputed terrorist long sought by CIA killed in explosion - CNN.com". www.cnn.com.
  5. ^ "تحقيقات إيرانية ـ سورية في اغتيال مغنية". www.albayan.ae. 15 February 2008.
  6. ^ Black, Ian; editor, Middle East (7 December 2010). "WikiLeaks cables: Syria stunned by Hezbollah assassination" – via The Guardian. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ [1]
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