Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT3600
2006-11-09 17:05:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: ISF COMMANDER REVEALS SYRIAN INVOLVEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO4953 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #3600 3131705 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 091705Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6411 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0489 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
S E C R E T BEIRUT 003600
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ISF COMMANDER REVEALS SYRIAN INVOLVEMENT
IN 2005 ASSASSINATION OF POLITICIAN GEORGE HAOUI
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b).
S E C R E T BEIRUT 003600
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ISF COMMANDER REVEALS SYRIAN INVOLVEMENT
IN 2005 ASSASSINATION OF POLITICIAN GEORGE HAOUI
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b).
1. (S/NF) General Ashraf Rifi, Director General of
Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, informed the Ambassador
in a meeting on November 8 that the ISF had successfully
uncovered a key figure involved in the assassinations of
Al-Nahar journalist Samir Kassir on June 2, 2005 and
communist politician George Hawi, killed by explosives on
June 21, 2005. General Rifi believes the successful
identification of a culprit was the motive for the
assassination attempt on the life of ISF's Deputy Chief of
Intelligence Samir Shehadeh on September 5, 2006 just outside
of Saida.
2. (S/NF) General Rifi is convinced that Syrian authorities
are directly responsible for all three crimes. Rifi said the
investigation conclusively concluded that Majid Ghamoush, a
Lebanese citizen from the Shia community in south Lebanon was
responsible for the Hawi and Kassir assassinations. Before
the suspect could be apprehended, however, he successfully
fled to Syria and is currently believed to be living there
under the protection of the Syrian regime. General Rifi
stated that Lebanese criminal prosecutors, as well as the
UNIIIC investigation of Serge Brammertz, have been given the
results of the ISF investigation, along with its supporting
evidence. Rifi also stated that some of the evidence
indicated "several" of the acts of political violence that
were committed in late 2004 and throughout 2005 are
connected. The general did not mince words when he stated
that Syrian and Iranian involvement is a given. He did not
directly implicate Hizballah, but said the fact that a
radicalized member of the Shia community from south Lebanon
committed the crime indicates Hizballah should have at least
been aware of the plan.
3. (S/NF) General Rifi credited U.S. technical and training
assistance provided to the ISF in 2005 as a primary reason
behind the successful investigation. He noted that U.S.
assistance was instrumental in allowing the ISF to exploit a
"closed cellular network" that was used by the perpetrators
of the crimes. Rifi expressed high hopes that U.S. law
enforcement assistance would continue and be expanded and
offered his support in any reasonable endeavor. He said the
ISF was in a race against time in acquiring the necessary
skills and equipment that would allow it to defeat a
well-financed and highly experienced adversary -- the secret
police of Syria and its allies. Despite the serious
challenges the ISF faces, the ISF Commander described morale
in his organization as very high, thanks to its enhanced
responsibilities and new emphasis on initiative.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ISF COMMANDER REVEALS SYRIAN INVOLVEMENT
IN 2005 ASSASSINATION OF POLITICIAN GEORGE HAOUI
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (b).
1. (S/NF) General Ashraf Rifi, Director General of
Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, informed the Ambassador
in a meeting on November 8 that the ISF had successfully
uncovered a key figure involved in the assassinations of
Al-Nahar journalist Samir Kassir on June 2, 2005 and
communist politician George Hawi, killed by explosives on
June 21, 2005. General Rifi believes the successful
identification of a culprit was the motive for the
assassination attempt on the life of ISF's Deputy Chief of
Intelligence Samir Shehadeh on September 5, 2006 just outside
of Saida.
2. (S/NF) General Rifi is convinced that Syrian authorities
are directly responsible for all three crimes. Rifi said the
investigation conclusively concluded that Majid Ghamoush, a
Lebanese citizen from the Shia community in south Lebanon was
responsible for the Hawi and Kassir assassinations. Before
the suspect could be apprehended, however, he successfully
fled to Syria and is currently believed to be living there
under the protection of the Syrian regime. General Rifi
stated that Lebanese criminal prosecutors, as well as the
UNIIIC investigation of Serge Brammertz, have been given the
results of the ISF investigation, along with its supporting
evidence. Rifi also stated that some of the evidence
indicated "several" of the acts of political violence that
were committed in late 2004 and throughout 2005 are
connected. The general did not mince words when he stated
that Syrian and Iranian involvement is a given. He did not
directly implicate Hizballah, but said the fact that a
radicalized member of the Shia community from south Lebanon
committed the crime indicates Hizballah should have at least
been aware of the plan.
3. (S/NF) General Rifi credited U.S. technical and training
assistance provided to the ISF in 2005 as a primary reason
behind the successful investigation. He noted that U.S.
assistance was instrumental in allowing the ISF to exploit a
"closed cellular network" that was used by the perpetrators
of the crimes. Rifi expressed high hopes that U.S. law
enforcement assistance would continue and be expanded and
offered his support in any reasonable endeavor. He said the
ISF was in a race against time in acquiring the necessary
skills and equipment that would allow it to defeat a
well-financed and highly experienced adversary -- the secret
police of Syria and its allies. Despite the serious
challenges the ISF faces, the ISF Commander described morale
in his organization as very high, thanks to its enhanced
responsibilities and new emphasis on initiative.
FELTMAN