History of Israel’s assassinations of leaders on foreign soils

Israel is known for its policy of killing its political opponents on foreign soil, while the West turns a blind eye to such extrajudicial killings

Muslim Network TV Desk

Israel has assassinated or attempted to assassinate at least 57 leaders in around 17 different countries. Here is the historical timeline of the assassinations:

1970s

• July 8, 1972 – Beirut, Lebanon
  • Target: Ghassan Kanafani
  • Description: Palestinian writer and a leading member of the PFLP, responsible for the Lod Airport massacre.
  • Action: Killed by car bomb.
  • Killer: Mossad

• July 25, 1972 – Beirut, Lebanon
  • Target: Bassam Abu Sharif
  • Description: Member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
  • Action: Injured by a bomb hidden in a book.
  • Killer: Mossad

• October 16, 1972 – Rome, Italy
  • Target: Abdel Wael Zwaiter
  • Description: Libyan embassy employee, PLO representative.
  • Action: Shot 12 times by Mossad gunmen.
  • Killer: Mossad

• December 8, 1972 – Paris, France

• • Target: Mahmoud Hamshari
  • Description: PLO representative in France.
  • Action: Killed by a bomb concealed in his telephone.
  • Killer: Mossad

• January 24, 1973 – Nicosia, Cyprus
  • Target: Hussein Al Bashir
  • Description: Fatah representative in Cyprus.
  • Action: Killed by a bomb in his hotel room.
  • Killer: Mossad

• April 6, 1973 – Paris, France
  • Target: Basil Al Kubaisi
  • Description: PFLP member and professor.
  • Action: Killed on a street by Mossad agents.
  • Killer: Mossad

• April 9, 1973 – Beirut, Lebanon (Operation Spring of Youth)
  • Targets: Kamal Adwan, Muhammad Youssef Al-Najjar, Kamal Nasser
  • Description: High-ranking PLO members.
  • Action: Shot and killed in their apartments.
  • Killer: Sayeret Matkal, Mossad

• April 11, 1973 – Athens, Greece
  • Target: Zaiad Muchasi
  • Description: Fatah representative to Cyprus.
  • Action: Killed in hotel room.
  • Killer: Mossad

• June 28, 1973 – Paris, France
  • Target: Mohammad Boudia
  • Description: Black September operations officer.
  • Action: Killed by pressure-activated mine under his car seat.
  • Killer: Mossad

• July 21, 1973 – Lillehammer, Norway
  • Target: Ali Hassan Salameh (failed attempt)
  • Description: PLO leader.
  • Action: Ahmed Bouchiki, an innocent waiter, killed by mistake.
  • Killer: Mossad (Lillehammer affair)

• March 27, 1978 – East Berlin, East Germany
  • Target: Wadie Haddad
  • Description: PFLP commander.
  • Action: Died reportedly from slow poison in chocolates.
  • Killer: Mossad (suspected)

• January 22, 1979 – Beirut, Lebanon
  • Target: Ali Hassan Salameh
  • Description: PLO leader.
  • Action: Killed by a remote-controlled car bomb.
  • Killer: Mossad

1980s

• June 13, 1980 – Paris, France

1. • Target: Yehia El-Mashad
   • Description: Egyptian nuclear scientist.
   • Action: Killed in hotel room.
   • Killer: Mossad

• September 1981 – São Paulo, Brazil
  • Target: José Alberto Albano do Amarante
  • Description: Brazilian Air Force colonel.
  • Action: Killed by radioactive material.
  • Killer: Mossad

• August 21, 1983 – Athens, Greece
  • Target: Mamoun Meraish
  • Description: Senior PLO official.
  • Action: Shot in his car.
  • Killer: Mossad

• June 9, 1986 – Athens, Greece
  • Target: Khalid Nazzal
  • Description: Secretary of the DFLP.
  • Action: Killed by Mossad agents.
  • Killer: Mossad

• October 21, 1986 – Unknown
  • Target: Munther Abu Ghazaleh
  • Description: High-ranked PLO leader.
  • Action: Killed by a car bomb.
  • Killer: Mossad

• April 16, 1988 – Tunis, Tunisia
  • Target: Abu Jihad
  • Description: Second-in-command to Yassir Arafat.
  • Action: Shot dead in front of his family.
  • Killer: Israel Defense Forces

• July 14, 1989 – Alexandria, Egypt
  • Target: Said S. Bedair
  • Description: Egyptian scientist.
  • Action: Fell to his death; suspected assassination.
  • Killer: Unknown (suspected Mossad)

1990s

• March 20, 1990 – Brussels, Belgium
  • Target: Gerald Bull
  • Description: Canadian engineer.
  • Action: Shot at his apartment door.
  • Killer: Mossad (suspected)

• February 16, 1992 – Nabatieh Governorate, Lebanon
  • Target: Abbas al-Musawi
  • Description: Secretary-General of Hezbollah.
  • Action: Killed by missile attack.
  • Killer: Israel Defense Forces

• June 8, 1992 – Paris, France
  • Target: Atef Bseiso
  • Description: Palestinian official.
  • Action: Shot in his hotel.
  • Killer: Mossad (suspected)

• October 26, 1995 – Sliema, Malta
  • Target: Fathi Shaqaqi
  • Description: Head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
  • Action: Shot and killed in front of hotel.
  • Killer: Mossad

• September 25, 1997 – Amman, Jordan
  • Target: Khaled Mashaal (failed attempt)
  • Description: Political leader.
  • Action: Attempted poisoning; antidote provided.
  • Killer: Mossad agents

2000s

• September 27, 2004 – Damascus, Syria
  • Target: Izz Eldine Subhi Sheik Khalil (42)
  • Affiliation: Hamas senior official, deported by Israel in 1992.
  • Incident: Blown up by a bomb hidden in his SUV when he answered a call on his mobile phone, triggering the explosion.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Israel did not claim responsibility, but Israeli officials hinted at involvement.
• May 25, 2006 – Sidon, Lebanon
  • Target: Mahmoud al-Majzoub (Abu Hamze), Nidal al-Majzoub
  • Affiliation: Commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad; Nidal was a member as well.
  • Incident: Critically wounded in a car bombing when he turned on the ignition of his car. Died the next day.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Islamic Jihad blamed Israel, which denied involvement.
• August 1, 2008 – Tartus, Syria
  • Target: Muhammad Suleiman
  • Affiliation: Syrian General, National Security Advisor, Presidential Advisor for Arms Procurement and Strategic Weapons.
  • Incident: Killed by sniper fire to the head and neck.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Israel widely suspected, but Israel denied involvement.

2010s

• January 12, 2010 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Masoud Ali-Mohammadi
  • Affiliation: Iranian Physicist.
  • Incident: Killed in a car bomb. An Iranian court claimed Mossad involvement, which the US State Department called “absurd.”
• January 19, 2010 – Dubai, UAE
  • Target: Mahmoud al-Mabhouh
  • Description: Palestine resistance organization senior military commander.
  • Action: Killed by alleged Israeli intelligence members.
  • Killer: Mossad (alleged).
• November 2010 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Majid Shahriari
  • Description: Professor at Shahid Beheshti University.
  • Action: Killed in a car explosion.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Iran blamed the US and Israel.
• July 23, 2011 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Darioush Rezaeinejad
  • Affiliation: Iranian electrical engineer.
  • Incident: Killed by unknown gunmen on a motorcycle.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Der Spiegel claimed Mossad was behind the operation.
• November 12, 2011 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam
  • Affiliation: Architect of the Iranian missile system, chief of the “self-sufficiency” unit of the IRGC.
  • Incident: Killed in the Bid Kaneh explosion. Iran claimed it was an accident, but TIME magazine cited an unnamed Western intelligence source suggesting Mossad’s involvement.
• January 2012 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan
  • Description: Chemical engineering graduate.
  • Action: Killed by a bomb placed on his car.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Iran blamed Israel and the US.
• February 12, 2013 – Damascus, Syria
  • Target: Hassan Shateri
  • Affiliation: Top IRGC General.
  • Incident: Killed in an Israeli airstrike while traveling from Damascus to Beirut.
• December 4, 2013 – Beirut, Lebanon
  • Target: Hassan al-Laqqis
  • Affiliation: Senior Hezbollah Military Commander.
  • Incident: Shot and killed outside his home.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Israel suspected, but no claim made.
• July 5, 2014 – Damascus, Syria
  • Target: Mwafaq Badiyeh
  • Affiliation: Hezbollah liaison officer.
  • Incident: Killed by an explosive device planted in his car.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Mossad suspected.
• January 18, 2015 – al-Amal Farms, Quneitra District, Syria
  • Targets: Jihad Mughniyah, Mohammed Ahmed Issa, Abu Ali Reza Al Tabatabai, Mohammed Ali Allah Dadi, Ismail Al Ashhab, Abu Abbas Al Hijazi, Mohammed Ali Hassan Abu Al Hassan, Ghazi Ali Dhawi, Ali Hussein Ibrahim
  • Affiliation: Iranian and Hezbollah high-ranking officers.
  • Incident: Killed by an Israeli airstrike.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Israel suspected but did not confirm.
• December 21, 2015 – Damascus, Syria
  • Targets: Samir Kuntar, Farhan Issam Shaalan, Mohammed Riza Fahemi, Mir Ahmad Ahmadi
  • Affiliation: Hezbollah and IRGC commanders.
  • Incident: Killed by an Israeli airstrike.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Israel suspected.
• December 15, 2016 – Sfax, Tunisia
  • Target: Mohamed Zouari
  • Affiliation: Chief of Hamas drone program.
  • Incident: Shot dead outside his home.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Hamas accused Mossad.

2020s

• April 21, 2018 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Target: Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh
  • Affiliation: Palestinian engineer working for Hamas.
  • Incident: Shot dead by two men on a motorcycle.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Mossad suspected.
• August 5, 2018 – Masyaf, Syria
  • Target: Aziz Asbar
  • Affiliation: Syrian scientist.
  • Incident: Killed by a car bomb.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Mossad suspected.
• August 7, 2020 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah
  • Description: Al Qaeda’s second in command.
  • Action: Gunned down.
  • Killer: Mossad (alleged).
• November 2020 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
  • Description: Prominent nuclear scientist.
  • Action: Killed in a roadside attack outside Tehran.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Western and Israeli intelligence suspected he was involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
• May 22, 2022 – Tehran, Iran
  • Target: Hassan Sayyad Khodaei
  • Description: Colonel of Quds Force.
  • Action: Shot dead.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Mossad suspected.
• March 19, 2023 – Damascus outskirts, Syria
  • Target: Ali Ramzi Al-Aswad
  • Description: Palestinian Islamic Jihad engineer.
  • Action: Assassinated.
  • Claim of Responsibility: Islamic Jihad accused Israel for the assassination.
• September 21, 2023 – Near Beit Jinn, Syria
  • Targets: Ali Okasha Abu Jarrah, Zaher as-Saadi Abu Alaa
  • Affiliation: Suspected Islamic Jihad militants.
  • Action: Killed by drone strike.
  • Killer: Israel allegedly responsible.
• December 25, 2023 – Sayyidah Zaynab, Syria
  • Target: Razi Mousavi
  • Affiliation: Commander in the IRGC’s Quds Force.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• January 2, 2024 – Dahieh, Lebanon
  • Target: Saleh al-Arouri
  • Affiliation: Deputy Chairman of the Political Bureau of Hamas.
  • Action: Killed by drone strike.
  • Killer: Israel allegedly responsible.
• January 8, 2024 – Majdel Selm, Lebanon
  • Target: Wissam al-Tawil
  • Affiliation: Senior commander of Hezbollah’s Redwan Force.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• January 9, 2024 – Khirbet Selm, Lebanon
  • Target: Ali Hussein Barji
  • Affiliation: Commander of Hezbollah’s aerial forces.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• January 20, 2024 – Mezzeh, Damascus, Syria
  • Target: Sadegh Omidzadeh
  • Affiliation: Head of the Quds Force intelligence unit in Syria.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• April 1, 2024 – Damascus, Syria
  • Target: Mohammad Reza Zahedi
  • Affiliation: Commander of Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• June 3, 2024 – Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
  • Target: Saeed Abiyar
  • Affiliation: Commander in the IRGC.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• June 11, 2024 – Jwaya, Lebanon
  • Target: Taleb Abdullah
  • Affiliation: Commander of Hezbollah’s Nasr unit.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• June 17, 2024 – Selaa, Lebanon
  • Target: Muhammad Mustafa Ayoub
  • Affiliation: Commander in the rocket and missile department of Hezbollah’s Nasr unit.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• July 3, 2024 – Haouch, southeast of Tyre, Lebanon
  • Target: Mohammed Nehme Nasser
  • Affiliation: Commander of Hezbollah’s Aziz unit.
  • Action: Killed by airstrike.
  • Killer: Israeli Air Force.
• July 30, 2024 – Iran
  • Target: Ismail Haniyeh
  • Affiliation: Top Hamas political leader.
  • Action: Killed.
  • Killer: Israel Air Force.