NOTHING seemed very remarkable about the short, bearded man who mingled with
other guests on Tuesday evening at a reception in Damascus, the Syrian
capital, to mark the 29th anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iranian
revolution.
Yet before the night was over he was dead in the twisted wreckage of his car
and the inevitable assumption was that Mossad, the Israeli foreign
intelligence service, had killed him with an ingeniously planted bomb.
The news spread rapidly that the dead man was Imad Mughniyeh, an elusive
figure known as “the Fox” who had been one of the world’s most feared
terrorist masterminds.
Robert Baer, a former CIA agent who spent years on his trail, said Mughniyeh
was “probably the most intelligent, most capable operative we’ve ever run
across”.
As the Israelis rejoiced, Iran and Hezbollah, the militant Shi’ite group,
which together had harnessed Mugniyeh’s expertise, mourned his death at a
huge funeral in Beirut, where he established his terrorist network.
Mughniyeh’s mother, Um Imad, sat amid a sea of black chadors, a lonely, sombre
figure as mourners held their hero’s picture aloft.
“If only I had more boys to carry on in his footsteps,” she sighed, confessing
that she did not have any pictures of him, even from his childhood, as he
had taken them away. He was the third of her sons to die in a car bombing.
With a price of $25m (£12.7m) on his head, he was always vigilant. Some say he
had had plastic surgery to alter his face in an effort to elude the
Americans and Israelis who blamed him for plane hijackings and other bloody
attacks which killed hundreds of their citizens in the Middle East and as
far away as South America.
He had grown accustomed to living dangerously and there was no reason he
should have feared for his safety last Tuesday as he sipped fruit juice at
the party at the Iranian cultural centre. Mughniyeh was on fairly good terms
with everybody present – almost all the leaders of the Damascus-based
militant groups were represented.
At 10.35pm he decided to go home. Having exchanged customary kisses with his
host, Hojatoleslam Ahmad Musavi, the newly appointed Iranian ambassador,
Mughniyeh stepped into the night.
Minutes later he was seated in his silver Mitsubishi Pajero in a nearby street
when a deafening blast ripped the car apart and killed him instantly.
According to Israeli intelligence sources, someone had replaced the headrest
of the driver’s seat with another containing a small high-explosive charge.
Israel welcomed his death but the prime minister’s office denied
responsibility. Hezbollah accused the “Zionist Israelis” of killing its
“brother commander” but believed the explosive had been detonated in another
car by satellite.
One witness said: “I held his head in my hands, kissed him farewell. His face
was burnt but intact and he had received serious injuries to his abdomen.”
Whatever the truth about the bomb, Mughniyeh, 45, died as he had lived –
violently. He was a product of the Lebanese civil war that transfixed
western governments 25 years ago.
Born in a south Lebanon village, the son of a vegetable seller, Mughniyeh
joined Force 17, Yasser Arafat’s personal bodyguard, when scarcely out of
his teens. After the Palestine Liberation Organisation was forced to leave
Lebanon in 1982, he stayed behind and joined Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi’ite
Islamic group that emerged in 1985 as a militant force resisting Israeli
occupation.
He came to the attention of Sheikh Mohammed Fadlallah, Hezbollah’s spiritual
leader, and rose quickly up the ranks. He was shaped into a remarkably
effective terrorist as, under the auspices of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards,
the organisation grew into one of the deadliest forces fighting Israel and
America.
Western terrorism experts say he was the dynamo behind some of Hezbollah’s
most lethal operations. These included the bombing of the American embassy
in Beirut that killed 63 people and the attacks on the US marine and French
paratrooper barracks that left more than 200 dead. It was Mughniyeh’s
decision to kidnap Terry Waite, the Church of England envoy, as he tried to
broker the release of other captives.
Another notorious act attributed to him was the hijacking of a TWA flight when
an American passenger, a US navy diver, was shot and his body thrown onto
the runway.
In the 1990s Israel made him a priority target for his involvement in two
attacks in Buenos Aires – the 1992 Israeli embassy bombing, which killed 29,
and a 1994 suicide bomb attack on a Jewish community centre, in which 85
died. Then he went to ground. The FBI placed him on its most-wanted list but
had to use a 20-year-old photograph for its reward posters.
Despite these difficulties, the CIA came close to capturing him. The Israelis
were also hot on his trail. “We tried to knock him down several times in the
late 1980s,” revealed David Barkay, a former major in unit 504 of Israeli
military intelligence who was in charge of Mughniyeh’s file.
“We accumulated intelligence on him, but the closer we got, the less
information we gleaned – no weak points, no women, money, drugs – nothing.”
Mughniyeh lost two brothers, Jihad and Fuad, in car bomb explosions in Beirut.
In 2000 he was targeted by an Israeli sniper in southern Lebanon. But in
Meir Dagan, who became head of Mossad in 2002, he faced a committed opponent
under whose leadership the organisation built a strong record in
assassinating Israel’s enemies.
Israel fought a bitter 34-day war against Hezbollah in 2006 to eradicate it in
southern Lebanon. It believes that Mughniyeh was instrumental in rebuilding
the group after the war, rearming it with Iranian-made Fateh 110 rockets
which are capable of hitting Tel Aviv and which it fears could be equipped
with chemical weapons.
Informed Israeli sources said that at the time of his death Mughniyeh was
working for the Syrians on a terrorist attack against Israeli targets. This
was to avenge Israel’s airstrike on what was believed to be a secret nuclear
site in Syria last year.
Since Mughniyeh’s death, Israeli embassies and Jewish institutions around the
world have been on high alert. “I’ve no doubt the Syrians and Iranians will
retaliate,” said Barkay.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s general secretary, warned in a fiery oration at
Mughniyeh’s funeral that Israel had committed a “major stupid mistake”. It
was now “open war”, he said.
In Lebanon, a close friend of Mughniyeh was certain that he would be avenged
by Hezbollah in an attack that, ironically, he had prepared himself before
his death. “Most likely the retaliation when it comes will be one that had
been planned and masterminded by Imad himself,” said Anis Al-Nackash, a
Lebanese expert on Hezbollah.
He said Mughniyeh had prepared a variety of “spectacular” attacks to be
executed by Hezbollah if one of its top leaders was assassinated. These were
now being dusted off and updated.
On the day Mughniyeh was buried, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister,
summoned Dagan from his cottage in Galilee to Jerusalem.
“It was a one-on-one meeting,” said a source. But it is believed that Dagan
was complimented by his boss and told that he would stay as head of Mossad
until the end of 2009.
Time will tell whether, as Israel fervently hopes, Mughniyeh’s death has
gravely weakened his organisation or if the effect has merely been to harden
Hezbollah’s resolve.
Taken out
The Israeli security service, Mossad, is thought to have killed six other
militants abroad since Meir Dagan became director in August 2002:
December 2002 Ramzi Nahara, Israeli agent who defected to Hezbollah and
planned attacks against Israel. Dagan knew him personally. Killed in Lebanon
by car bomb
March 2003 Abu Mohammed Al-Masri, Al-Qaeda member building cell to
target Israeli border with Lebanon. Killed by car bomb in Lebanon
August 2003 Ali Hussein Saleh, Hezbollah explosives expert. Killed by
car bomb in Beirut
July 2004 Ghaleb Awali, Hezbollah official with links to activists in
Gaza Strip. Killed by car bomb in Beirut
September 2004 Izz el-Deen al-Sheikh Khalil, Hamas official liaising
between headquarters in Syria and members in Gaza and West Bank. Killed by
car bomb in Damascus
May 2006 Mahmoud Majzoub, Islamic Jihad official liaising with
Hezbollah. Killed by car bomb blast in Lebanon
There is an article in todays (Feb. 26) "Ha'Aretz" newspaper that Mughniyeh's widow blames Syria for his death. I have not been able to find this in any other newspaper, but it IS food for thought.
Also abounding were rumors that Mughniyeh was planning (with Iran's help) to take over Hizballah from Nasrallah... so there's another porential source-- and it would serve Nasrallah well-- to eliminate Mughniyeh, a threat to his own position (and life), while blaming Israel.
Meanwhile, after two weeks of "investigation", Syria maintains a ponderous silence... my guess is that we'll never know.
Michael, Ra'anana, Israel
I hope the US would put the bite back in CIA's bark. This is how it's done. You act PRO-ACTIVELY, not after its done. I know US SOG is conducting ops in p-stan. You get inserted, then you hide during the day, observing...at nite you go out and chase the leads ur team is given. If the target is valuable enough, a Task Force is choppered in or dropped by parachute. Then its party time. We must be more agressive.
Rhyno3rdSFG, Ft. Campbell, KY
This excellent news has certainly created a flap amongst the Islamo Fascists and their henchmen.The death of the terrorist called " The Fox " by some and " The Skunk " by others shows that evil men have nowhere to hide.It should act as a warning to terrorists and despots worldwide.
Josh Renfrew, London, UK
He was a result of the Lebanese civil war and Hezbollah is a result of the invasion of Lebanon by Israel which was all caused by the homeless Palestinians kicked out of their homeland in Israel.
In the end there will never be peace and there will be many more like him until the injustice of the Palestinian treatment & Israel issues are resolved.
Gerry, Beirut, Lebanon
I agree with the US State Department spokesman: the world is a better place without Imad Mugniyah in it. He was an arch-terrorist with the blood of hundreds on his hands and he received justice - finally.
Richard Williams, Woodbridge, USA/Virginia
Violence begets violence. The drama continues. When will it stop? But then when did it start?
By the standard of terrorism that the US itself promulgates, both the US and Israel are terrorist states. Go talk to Chomsky.
Which historian will ever forget the terror that the earlier Israelis imposed on the "Palestinians". Oops there is no such thing as Palestinians. They are not people. We have nobody to negotiate with.
So plse dont teach the world to brand who's-who is or are not terrorists. We are no fools. Let the world decide; you can be aloof in yr grand delusions.
All said, long live to any of you out there, anywhere in the world, who stand against tyranny and oppression, whatever kind. Be brave! Damn those who call you a terrorist when what you do is merely to stake yr claim.
Marco/ Kuala Lumpur
Marco Hiirata, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hmmm according to Wikipedia, Abu Mohamed Al-Masri is still alive and living in Iran
Cahrles, Beirut, Lebanon
People talk about love and peace and forgiveness. Yes it is commendable. We do it in Nigeria! People wake up one morning and go on rampage killing and beheading at the slightest excuse, we "turn the other cheek". What this has shown is a continued killing of innocent citizens.
Imagine a tiny state like Israel "turning the other cheek" to millions of people who believe it should be annihilated!! There would have been no single soul in Israel today.
Do you know what Israel's neighbours teach at kindergarten? hate and annihilation of Israel! - You don't tell a deaf man that he is in the middle of a market!!!!
Israel runs the highest risk by simply "forgiving and seeking peace". You only seek peace with those who want peace.!!!!
Uli, Abuja, Nigeria
When you meet violence with violence there will always be violence, untill their is mutual annialation. Human violence is a manifestation of cosmic entropy where all things eventually come to an end.
If we really hate violence, we must learn to forgive and love our enemies. We must make peace with those who want peace and apply fair, honest, justice (courts, due-process, innocent until proven guilty, etc.) to those who violate the health and happiness of others. Meeting assasinations with assasinations will only result in more assasinations. There is no excuse for so-called civilised states acting like street gangs with vendettas.
J.K. Williams, Atlanta, GA/USA
I think my comment might be a fiery tale if I mention LOVE. Whatever happened to love. We are too afraid to love. It costs nothing to love but much more to hate, plan to kill and leave an eternity of pain. Oh if I could just hold a neighbours hand, tell them it is well and help heal the worlds trouble.
Tim, Brighton, UK
There seems to be some information in this article that contradicts other articles about Imad Moughnieh i have read so far. To begin with, Syria's innitial report about the murder states that Mougnieh dosent drive a pagero and was not in that car at the moment (news released on the 16th). Second, it has been mentioned in other articles and on lebanese TV that Moughnieh's mother is dead. she died last year in Lebanon, the only time family members claim to have seen him in the past 20 yrs. on local tv, his aunt said that Imad came to lebanon once last year to pay respects at his mothers funeral.
Strange how each reporter gets different information about the same event. Who to believe? in my opinion, its all propaganda.
GK, Spain,
It's amazing that those who rejoice, even enjoy, the dismemberment of another human being; these so called Christians, & Democrats, can be so happy that the 'the right thing' has been done. Those who can excuse any amount of bloodletting as long as somebody sells it to them that it was for the common good. Those who rant and pontificate about democracy, but the true test of democracy is the fairness and application of the law. We only have predictabile western propanganda about this 'victim' . After all of the lies we have been fed by the US, UK, Israeli's and others; why should we beleive what we read about this person? Maybe he was a ruthless terorists or maybe he was simply a convenient target in the paropanganda war?; maybe the guy that planted the bomb that killed him, kissed his kids goodnight and asked god to forgive his actions or maybe he is a sociopath who cant quite believe his luck in getting paid to murder people for a 'legitimate cause'.
Bmak, Dublin, Ireland
Very Hollywood, sigh.
Chris, Birmingham, UK
The title of the article states: "Israel kills terror chief with headrest bomb" but every article I have read, including this one, states that Israel denies any involvement. Whether Israel was involved or not, how can the author of this article be sure? Does he have sources that no one else has? The title leaves no room to question anything...it states Israel targeted him. I find it strange
John Bob Meister, London, UK
Although possibly the Israelis, i think it is more likely to be Syria or factions within hezbollah who killed him.
Derek, Gateshead,
Kenstee's comment about the "good murderers" is lacking my respect. Israel must do what they can against those who have vowed to wipe them of the map. Bombs and rockets are almost daily events against Israel. Israel has never vowed to wipe any of it's neighbors of the map. The aggressors are obvious in this picture. Israel gives land, absorbs 50% of the so-called Palestinians, which are nothing more then Egyptians and Jordanians that were told they could have all the goods in Israel after they lost the war. Yet miracously, Israel won big time. Now the "Palestinians" are a trump card and used as leverage to make Israel look bad....even while their own countries have ample room and resources. What a joke......I wish I could go to Israel, I would join Mossad myself.
Daniel, Brunswick, USA Georgia
This makes no sense.Think of it... a headrest bomb but his face is intact and he has serious abdominal injuries? I don't think so. A bomb in that location would decapitate.
Don't think The Times has it right on this one.
kenstee, New York, USA
What is a terrorist? One who causes terror in others. Who are they? Perhaps, the best people to ask would be the terrorized. Why is it discomforting to have media lining up to declare who the terrorists are. Legions of obliterated innocents over the age of fossil fuels , and astonished oil suckers report there are those who would ask them to leave ...whowouldathunkit? You can bomb the the life out of who ever you want, as many as you want, where ever you want. Refreshingly, there are hard rules for who is not a terrorist. .....Haircut? Sandals? Lunch menu? nope ! Greed, hubris, severe cognitive dissonance, media support and your enemy deserves it. How do we know they deserve it ?...the media reports frame it that way. What is omitted? What is contextually correct? What flagrant fabrication? Apparently, someone secreted a bomb over an international border and murdered someone and there's dancing in the streets. s'alright they're the good murderers! and it's backtosleep
michael, ottawa, canada
Another day, another death. If we check our history book we see that Hitler"s armies were invincible until they encroached on Russian soil, and then the conflict became a "War of Annihilation" in which untold millions died in the most horrible ways imaginable. I would respectfully suggest that we are once again approaching the point where the conflict in the middle-East will escalate, possibly to a full scale war or annihilation, where untold millions will die, and this horror will only end when one side or the other is too weak to continue the struggle.
Augustus Blear, Langport, UK
imam, i don't recall the charming Mughniyeh offering to hand himself over for trial.
albo, tel aviv,
Democracy's are designed to prevent the breeding the type of person Mughniyeh was. But democracies are obliged to pursue, until the job is done, those who will use terror to kill innocent women and children. I hope that a democratic government was behind this killing, but I have my doubts.
Gilad, Hod Hasharon, Israel
Knowing that your country will be destroyed if you fail is a powerful incentive. Except, of course, if you're a Democrat in America, which means you're working to hamstring all the intelligence agencies and stab the military in the back.
NightFire, Pike Road, Alabama, USA
Where are the "good guys"? When we stoop to the same tactics as the "terrorists" what does that make us? Israel is obviously a terrorist nation and should be branded as such. What does sovreign nation mean? Israel committed an act of wara and should be ostracized by all nations that believe in a fairness.
Danny, Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA
This is another most Stupid mistake. It will only increase Terrorism act all over the place. we must stop "Violence" any way to make world in peace.
ayazf, Toronto, Canada
J Richmond, your post leads me to believe your quite young and have a relatively poor grasp of both the history as well as the current situation in your own backyard. You said "Politicians of both stripes have over the past 50 years done more damage to the UK than either Hitler or terrorists have ever done" And based on some of your other statements, I’m almost positive you’ve been heard to say Neville Chamberlain-esque things like “Islam is really a religion of peace.†So I ask you JR, who do you think said "What we want lies clear before us: not war and not strife. Just as we have established peace within our own people, so we want nothing else than peace with the world. For we all know that our great work can succeed only in a time of peace" Give up sparky? It was Adolf Hitler, back on May 1, 1935. Nuff said.
Joseph Crowley, New York, New York, USA
I find it rather humourous that the half that say he deserved what he got don't feel the same way when roles are reversed ie israelies getting hit by arabs.
What some people here don't seem to realize is that israel is hanging by a thread, a thread which europe and the US made for them. When that thread goes what will happen? All the rhetoric won't help when syria, iran and others finally decide to let their fury loose
Monz, windsor, Ontario, CANADA
Two results comes out of Mughniya assassination, one is the euphoric satisfaction of those responsible for it and two the future killings of people some where in the world which may include you or me or me and you to-gather. well i doubt whether the assassination was an ingenious operation.
D. Khoury, Jerusalem, Israel
The war-mongering Middle Eastern muslim states have been very fortunate to escape SERIOUS conflict with Israel and the West, up until now. But they should beware. Indications are, that the 'secret' bombings in Syria were a necessary step to preventing future Middle Eastern nuclear war. However, it would behold Iran to reconsider its genocidal policies and nuclear aspirations towards Israel very, very carefully, because Israel will not end up fighting a deciding war alone. Too many deadly, cowardly muslim terrorist attacks on Western citizens and Western interests around the world in the last few years, have drawn us irrevocably into the fray and don't think for one moment our anger is undiminished. Radical muslim governments are not hoodwinking anyone and should not mistake Western and Israeli efforts at diplomacy and peace for weakness. That would be very, very foolish.
Jean, Hague, NL
So who gets the $25m?
Farrukh, Woking, UK
Milita, Tehran, when you are talking about " they can not buy immunity and security by denying milions of peopl'e basic rights. ". Are you talking about the people being hung on squares in Tehran, journalists being jailed or thieves whose hands are being chopped off in your home country? I am very confused.......
Barry de Jong, Krommenie, Netherlands
Interesting that Israel said to be such a spent force by its critics is able to operate in Damascus, one of the most tightly controlled capitals in the Middle East. It is also thought that the arrest of 6 terrorists in Paris in Janunary who were found with maps of London on them and had marked out potential targets lead the trail back to Mughniyeh. If it was the Israelis they must have had help from local people in Syria. Nassrallah will go in to hinding again.
S,Stephens , London, UK
TWA - Travel With Arafat -Die by Arafat.
Nina is right.
Steve, London,
Was he tried & convicted ... or is this another example of a government acting as judge, jury & executioner? Is this the democratic example that Middle Eastern countries should aspire to? LOL!
iman, watford, uk
The president of the United States won't say anything publicly because the loss of this disgusting persons life just isn't that important..if ALL of the rest of his "gang" were killed at the same time ..then there may be a time for a comment and celebration
ERIC, FT. LAUDERDALE, U.S. /Florida
Mike King - What is your real name?
Yes Mike, your comment about not being "worthy" has been used before by Islamic leaders to deflect the Jewish connection to Jerusalem. Who gives you the right to determine who is worthy? Where the Crusaders worthy? Are Islamic blood thirsty fundamentalists worthy? Out of the three religions, Judaism is responsible the the least amount of deaths and only under Israeli rule has Jerusalem been open to all religions.
Gilad, Hod Hasharon, Israel
"We can't keep the stubborn "eye-for-an-eye" Arabs and Israelites from fighting."
We could go a long way to that end Mike by simply stop pouring arms into the region.
Jim O'Sullivan, Sligo, Ireland
He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
Ted, Rome, Italy
What right do the Israeli or Americans have to go into a third country and assassinate anyone. Surely this is against international law even though Mosad have been doing it for a very long time.
This man was suspected of involvement but never proven, we can now assume that you do not need to prove anything in order to kill someone you do not like.
Shame on all parties.
joe, Edinburgh, Scotland
Very telling that the man murdered in this article is thought to deserve murder, due to the claim that he is a terrorist. I know that if this murder was commited by someone who claims to be a muslim in the same circumstances, all your comments would be so different.
I don't condone this violence, it is senseless no matter who it is perpetrated by.
For those of you who make uninformed comments, please take the time to acquire some knowledge before doling out your judgements.
Anfaal, London, UK
"killed him with an ingeniously planted bomb."
Interesting use of language about a bomb meant to blow a mans head off. Very different to how muslim car bomb attacks are described.
If this attack and the other carbomb attacks listed at the end of the article were conducted by a "civalized goverment", i wonder if they consider the civilians at the side of the road or other drivers? probably not because they aren't in Isreal.
bill, Aberdeen, Scotland
Barry
Do you know what happened if kids play with fire? So dont make this kind of joyful comments.
jak, Delhi, India
Religion and death allways went hand in hand.
What is all the fuss about - Sad for the ordernainy people, on all sides, who just want to get on with their lives.
Steve, London,
NR: "GETTING sucked into this local divided house?" This conflict dates back thousands of years, and the US began taking sides more than a half century ago, follwing Britain's lead from early in the last century. The "getting" began decades ago. It's no wonder we are now seen by these alienated extremists as viable targets of their terror.
DrYattz, Dahlonega, GA, US
Mike King - I am sorry to say this, but your idea of "peace in the middle east" is an utopia. I would love Jerusalem to be declared an International territory, all green and peaceful, but if you think that's the magic solution for all problems you are wrong. Jerusalem may be one of the "core issues" but its far from being the source of the problem, and that source is the refusal of Palestinians, Hezbollah, Iran and Co to recognize and accept the existance of Israel. We keep talking about peace process - but so far that process has been one-sided. You can only negotiate with someone who acknowledges you.
Galia, Jerusalem, Israel
I am almost convinced that it is clear who is trying to instigate the blame on the Syrian Govt for all the chaos in Lebanon - Israel. very shameful
MKN, chennai,
I HOPE the world will be a better and safer place to live without him. His familly will miss him, but the world NO. He killed many innocent people, and all these TERORISTS, must know that one day they will die with violence.
Samule, LDN,
Israel and her sworn allies should know that things are quite different in Lebanon, and in greater scope in Mideast. they can not buy immunity and security by denying milions of peopl'e basic rights. They should know that 1.5 billion people do NOT recognize the brand of terrorist for people like Emad Mugniyeh. they are honored as Martyrs in entire muslim world and western biased media cant change anything. Israel will pay a high price for her stupid policies.
Milita, Tehran, Iran/Tehran
When will this mess end? How many people will have to die before both sides have had enough blood? What will Tony Blair now do?
Rob, Chelmsford, Essex, UK
Mike King - I agree with you. The world today is getting sucked into this local divided house in the middle east.
NR, Bristol, UK
there is a disturbing continuation of car bombs in the world these days...
concerned, van, ca
So, car bombing is the preferred method of assasination in Lebanon. Makes me wonder who has been killing Lebanese politicians as well and trying to pin the blame on Syria.
J. Taylor, London,
A priceless and hilarious commentary on your understanding of Arabic. "Um Imad, the mother of Imad Mughniyeh..."
Um Imad means, simply, "mother of Imad." So the redundancy is very amusing, at least to me.
Martha, Miami, Florida USA
What a sad, sad planet we have designed for ourselves.
Ron Green, London, Ontario, Canada
So Hassan Nasrallah says it is "now open war"? Extremist leaders have claimed to take the gloves off many times in the past, with no significant difference in the effects of their activities. When Hezbollah has promised the likes of "open war" they would instigate a few bombings and fire a few or a few dozen rockets into Israel, and Israel would respond by eliminating the leaders of the attacks and locking down their borders.
With Nasrallah's new promise, they'll instigate a few bombings and fire a few or a few dozen rockets into Israel, and Israel will respond by eliminating the leaders of the attacks and locking down their borders. It's all just another day in paradise.
Hezbollah's general secretary fools no one with his silly claims and recycled aspirations. We know his gang and its capabilities. Religious sides are irrelevant. He's vastly outgunned, and only survives by the grace of his opponent's persistent mercy.
Chris, Philadelphia, PA
He got what he hugely DESERVES.Our world is a better place without such cruel terrorist.
Habasha, Ness Ziona,
This man hijacked planes, bombed embassies , bombed UN troops...he is the definition of a terrorist .
John, London, UK
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND...
Nina Karam, New York, NY, USA
I think it's a shame that when a terrorist who killed hundreds of American (!) is killed we don't hear a word from the president of the US about it... Worse, I think that now that we know for 100% that syria was giving shelter to a man who killed hundrend of American that America doesn't take direct punituve action against the Syrian regime... If I were an American I would feel ashamed...
nir, Jerusalem, Israel
I stand on the outside watching this.
I only have tears for Palestine.
Yahdah Yisrayl Hawkins, Abilene, Texas
Their is no connection between the title of the article to the content,
M.Cohen, London, UK
This is a very irresponsible article. Nothing has been proven about who killed Imad. It can very well be sue at an internal power struggle in Hizabollah.
This article will surely in the lines of the Golden Rule of colonial Britain - "Divide and Rule"
This article further inflames passions on both sides (Arabs and jews) in already divided Middle East which could one day lead to a Nuclear war
P.Sharma, Brampton, ON, Canada
There's a lesson here for terrorist thugs....don't ride in automobiles.
gle, McKinney, TX
I never hurt anyone in my life. I have gladly been there to help. I work very hard to make my way in life. People like Mr Mughniyeh hate what I stand for? and want to do harm to westerners like me? Forgive me for not understanding. I am saddened circumstances led him to do what he did, and others to do to him what they did. We are in deep trouble if this is the best we can do.
Robert Dean Cameron, Victoria, BC
Whether Israel was involved, approved or the beneficiary of inter-terrorist violence clouds the root issues.
This is an Israel-Arab issue. Neither are "good guys". There is no appreciable grass-roots peace movement in either camp in either. Both are ready to fight to the last man, woman and child.
Neither are proven worthy to possess the holy city of Jerusalem of over 75% & of the worlds people of faith.
Lets get realistic and demand that Jerusalem and the suburbs surrounding it be made and International Open City, governed by International Law and protected by the UN (Western & Russian troops).
All faiths would have free access with no fear.
We can't keep the stubborn "eye-for-an-eye" Arabs and Israelites from fighting. But they may eventually accept that having the diamond of Jerusalem stand as a beacon of light exposes their suicidal folly.
When these assainations become irrelevant, we shall have true progress.
Mike King, Oakland,, CA
As another reader has pointed out the headline here is not supported by any real evidence. Speculations abound as to who may have been involved here. One line even says it is the Syrians. Factional infighting among terrorist groups is after all not rare.
It can however be said that this is a small victory in a long ongoing war between those who value freedom and human dignity, and those who would make Islamism the ruling faith of mankind.
Shalom Freedman, Jerusalem , Israel
Given that there's been no evidence as to the identities of the perpetrators, and Israel has explicitly denied any involvement in the incident (never mind the potential for intra-faction struggles), don't you think it's a little irresponsible to give this article the headline it has? The Times is usually a bit better than that...
Victor Williams, Framingham, MA/USA
We shall not see his like again - thank God.
gwilym rhys-jones, costa del sol, spain
The Shiah (Iran and Hezbollah) might decide to attack Israel in response for Mughniyeh's execution. They will definitely take into consideration Israel's wrathful actions in 2006 when the Shiah killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers. The Shiah Lebanese have yet to recuperate from the 2006 war and might not be ready as a population to face another war. The Iranians are facing loads of financial problems at home. They might not be willing to rebuild Shiah Lebanon so early after the 2006 war.
They say Hassan Nasrallah is a wise man: he might want to make sure the Israelis killed his man and not any other party. Jumping to the conclusion that Israel did it is not wise as the Syrians might have their own reason for doing away with Mughniyeh.
If I were to be called to advise Hassan Nasrallah I would tell him that in view of the above the Shiah the world over have more to gain from being friends with the West than waging war on the West for the benefit of a pseudo-Persian Shiah Empire
Paul Fadoul, New Hyde Park, United States of America