Military operation carried out by the Israel Defense Forces
On 16 February 1992, Abbas al-Musawi, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on his vehicle in southern Lebanon, as part of the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000). Israel code-named the operation Night Time Operation ().
Background.
After the Disappearance of Israeli Air Force officer, Ron Arad, the head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (Aman), Uri Sagi, directed that plans be developed to kidnap Musawi, a high-ranking figure in Hezbollah, to use as leverage for potential future prisoner exchange deals. The operation nicknamed "Night Time" () was to be conducted by the Sayeret Matkal and Shayetet 13, two IDF special units.
Preparations for the operation were set to culminate on February 16, 1992. However, on the day of the planned abduction, it was discovered that Musawi was surrounded by a large crowd, making the kidnapping impractical. In response, the IDF's Intelligence Directorate recommended converting the mission into a targeted strike instead.
Assassination.
Following approval from the 24th Government of Israel, the head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, Uri Sagi, and Chief of Staff Ehud Barak, authorized an Israeli Air Force helicopter strike targeting a convoy in southern Lebanon. Israeli Apache helicopters fired missiles at the three-vehicle motorcade of al-Musawi in southern Lebanon, killing al-Musawi, his wife, his five-year-old son, and four others. Israel later confirmed that the operation was a pre-planned targeted assassination.
Response.
Following the assassination, Islamic Jihad Organization and other operatives have orchestrated the 1992 Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing, as well as the AMIA bombing. The embassy bombing resulted in the deaths of 28 people, including four employees of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and four Jewish women. The AMIA bombing, which occurred two years later, claimed the lives of 85 individuals. An Argentine intelligence report concluded that Imad Mughniyeh, the head of Hezbollah's military wing, was a key figure in planning the AMIA bombing, alongside other Hezbollah operatives and Iranian officials.
References.
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