Sources confirm that Salim Ayyash, a senior Hezbollah commander and a key figure implicated in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Ayyash, born on November 10, 1963, was known for his deep involvement in Hezbollah’s military operations. In June 2011, he was indicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) for his role in the 2005 assassination of Hariri, a crime that shocked Lebanon and the region.
The STL found Ayyash guilty in absentia in August 2020, holding him responsible for the planned execution of the attack that claimed the lives of Hariri and 21 others. In March 2021, the U.S. State Department announced a $10 million reward for information leading to Ayyash’s capture, underscoring his significance as a wanted figure. Despite his conviction, he remained a free man, reportedly under the protection of Hezbollah.
Ayyash was charged with:
• Conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
• Carrying out a terrorist act using explosives.
• Murder of Rafik Hariri and 21 others with explosive devices.
• Attempted murder of 231 others injured in the bombing.
The STL stated, “The evidence confirms Ayyash’s deliberate involvement in the Hariri assassination,” yet noted the lack of direct evidence tying Hezbollah or Syria’s leadership to the crime. Other accused figures, including Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra, and Hassan Habib Merhi, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Who Was Salim Ayyash?
Salim Jamil Ayyash, born on November 10, 1963, was a senior military operative in Hezbollah. He was primarily known for his involvement in covert operations and his deep-rooted connections within the organization’s leadership. Ayyash’s notoriety peaked when the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) indicted him in June 2011 for his role in the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri. Despite his conviction, Ayyash remained at large, living under the protection of Hezbollah, according to reports.
In August 2020, the Special Tribunal issued a guilty verdict against Ayyash, finding him responsible for orchestrating the assassination, which claimed the lives of Hariri and 21 others. The STL’s judgment was delivered in absentia, emphasizing his continued evasion of justice. A year later, in March 2021, the U.S. State Department announced a $10 million reward for any information leading to Ayyash’s capture, underscoring his high value as a wanted individual.
Indictment and Charges
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon charged Salim Ayyash with several grave offenses, including:
• Conspiracy to Commit a Terrorist Act: Planning and executing an attack intended to terrorize the population.
• Terrorist Act Using Explosive Devices: Involvement in the use of explosive devices to carry out acts of terrorism.
• Intentional Murder of Rafik Hariri: Direct involvement in the premeditated killing of the former Prime Minister using a bomb.
• Murder of 21 Others Using Explosives: Responsibility for the deaths of 21 individuals as a result of the explosive attack.
• Attempted Murder of 231 Persons: Accusations of attempted murder for the injuries sustained by over 200 victims in the Hariri assassination.
The tribunal’s final judgment in August 2020 declared that “the evidence proves Salim Ayyash’s involvement in the deliberate and premeditated assassination of Rafik Hariri.” Despite these findings, the court highlighted the absence of direct evidence linking the Syrian government or Hezbollah leadership to the assassination plot.
Other Accused and Trial Outcome
Three other individuals were charged in connection with the assassination: Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra, and Hassan Habib Merhi. However, the tribunal ultimately acquitted them, citing insufficient evidence to establish their direct involvement. The ruling emphasized that while Ayyash held a senior position within Hezbollah, there was no conclusive proof implicating Hezbollah or Syrian authorities in the assassination.
The verdict has remained a point of contention, with many speculating about the broader political motivations behind the attack. Ayyash’s death now removes a key figure from the equation, but the mystery and controversy surrounding the case continue.
أفادت مصادر أن القيادي في “حزب الله” سليم عياش، المتهم باغتيال رئيس الوزراء اللبناني الراحل رفيق الحريري، قد قُتل في غارة جوية إسرائيلية. عياش، المولود في 10 نوفمبر 1963، كان معروفًا بدوره البارز في العمليات العسكرية لـ”حزب الله”. وقد اتهمته المحكمة الدولية الخاصة بلبنان في يونيو 2011 بالتورط في اغتيال الحريري عام 2005، وهي الجريمة التي هزت لبنان والمنطقة.
في أغسطس 2020، أصدرت المحكمة حكمًا غيابيًا يدين عياش بتورطه في العملية التي أودت بحياة الحريري و21 آخرين. وفي مارس 2021، أعلنت وزارة الخارجية الأمريكية عن مكافأة قدرها 10 ملايين دولار لمن يدلي بمعلومات تؤدي إلى القبض عليه. ورغم إدانته، ظل عياش طليقًا على ما يبدو تحت حماية “حزب الله”.
وتم توجيه التهم التالية لعياش:
• التآمر لارتكاب عمل إرهابي.
• تنفيذ عمل إرهابي باستخدام متفجرات.
• قتل رفيق الحريري و21 شخصًا آخر باستخدام المتفجرات.
• محاولة قتل 231 آخرين أصيبوا في التفجير.
وأكدت المحكمة أن “الأدلة تثبت تورط عياش عمدًا في اغتيال الحريري”، لكنها أشارت إلى عدم وجود دليل مباشر يربط قيادة “حزب الله” أو سوريا بالجريمة. وتم تبرئة المتهمين الآخرين حسين عنيسي، وأسد صبرا، وحسن حبيب مرعي لعدم كفاية الأدلة
