Mughniyah's strike: A Benchmark in the Counter Terror War

By Walid Phares

The killing of Imad Mughniye in Damascus, what ever is the context and whom ever are the executors, is a benchmark in the war between the Iranian Terror networks and their enemies. Mughniye has led the Iranian and Hezbollah operations against US personnel since 1983 and was the top planner in the Hezbollah-Israel war. He was seen as the principal link between the Pasdaran (Iranian Revolutionary Guard) power and its supported organizations around the world including Hezbollah in Lebanon and overseas. But as important, was his role in coordinating the Iranian Terror activities with Syria's intelligence services.

His elimination has mostly a symbolical effect on the secret war between Western intelligence and the axis' secret apparatus. In intelligence lingo, he was the top Terror operations general, not only central to Lebanon's activities but also to training Hezbollah's "international" action, including Iraq, Gaza and the West.

The impact of such an event is seen clearly in the statements made by the leadership of Hezbollah and the potential actions the group may take.

Dr Walid Phares is Director of the Future Terrorism Project at the Foundation for teh defense of Democracies.


(Report Attached)

Death of a Terrorist Mastermind

Future Terrorism Project - Foundation for the Defense of Democracies - Washington DC

Rapid Response #001

February 13, 2008

Late last night, senior Hezbollah leader Imad Mugniyah was killed by a car bomb in Damascus. Commonly referred to as a “master terrorist,” Mugniyah was has been implicated some of the most significant terrorist attacks in recent history, including the bombing of the Israeli embassy (1992) and Jewish community center (1994) in Buenos Aires, the 1985 hijacking of the of a TWA passenger jet, the 1996 Khobar Tower bombings in Saudi Arabia (1993), and the 1983 marine barracks bombing in Lebanon, which claimed the lives of 241 American servicemen. The list goes on. Mugniyah is also reported to have met with members of al-Qaeda’s senior leadership, including Osama bin Laden, and is believed to have played a role in the terrorist group’s technical development.

Hezbollah has been quick to place blame on Israel. In a statement broadcasted on al-Manar, Hezbollah’s television network, the Shi’a terrorist group declared, “The brother commander hajj Imad Mughinyah became a martyr at the hands of the Zionist Israelis.” It would not be the first time that Israel has attempted to assassinate the terrorist leader. In 1994, Mossad made an attempt on his life with a car bomb in Beuirut. However, Mugniyah failed to show at the destination, though his brother Faud was killed. For its part, Israel is denying any involvement. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, “Israel rejects the attempt by terror groups to attribute to it any involvement in this incident.”

Israel’s denial aside, Hezbollah has already stated that it will use Mugniyah’s death as a justification for a wave of attacks against Israel. Hezbollah’s leadership plans to meet in Beirut where, according to Hezbollah lawmaker Ismail Sukeyir, they will discuss a response: “Hezbollah has the right to retaliate anywhere in the world and in any way it sees fit.”

Mugniyah’s death will be a significant blow to Hezbollah’s international operations. Analysts believe that Mugniyah was responsible for overseeing the terrorist group’s international operations, including its groups across the globe. Moreover, one of my sources in Lebanon said yesterday that he believed Mugniyah was overseeing the development of chemical and biological weapons for Hezbollah. Thus, the loss of such a central figure will surely be a blow. As an indication of Mugniyah’s prominence, the ransom for his arrest was higher than Hezbollah secretary-general Sayyid Nasrallah.

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