Salim Ayyash

Salim Jamil Ayyash (Arabic: سليم جميل عيّاش; 10 November 1963 – 10 November 2024) was a Lebanese militant and senior Hezbollah military operative, who served as the head of its assassination squad Unit 121.^[1][2][3] He is best known for his indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as one of the major individuals involved in the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.^[4][5]

Following the publishing of his name by the investigation from the Tribunal, Ayyash went into hiding and never appeared in front of the Tribunal, and a second indictment was confirmed against him in another case on 15 May 2019 by the Tribunal. He was tried in absentia.^[6][7] Rewards for Justice Program is offering $10 million for information on him.^[8] On November 10, 2024 he was killed by an Israeli air strike in Syria.^[9]

Biography

Born in Harouf, Nabatieh Governorate, Lebanon, Ayyash's parents were Jameel Dakheel Ayyash and Mahasen Issa Salameh. He lived in various locations in Hadath in the southern suburbs in Nabatieh in South Lebanon before disappearing.

On 18 August 2020, he was found guilty of the assassination and the death of 21 other individuals in the incident that occurred in February 2005. He was found guilty on five charges including the intentional murder of Hariri with premeditation by using explosive materials.^[10][11]

Three other indictees were acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence including Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra and Hassan Merhi. Similar charges against a fourth principal indictee Mustafa Badreddine were dropped after he died on 13 May 2016. Proceedings against him were terminated on 12 July 2016.^[10][12]

Ayyash was sentenced by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in absentia on 11 December 2020.^[13]

On 10 November 2024, reports claimed that Ayyash was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Al-Qusayr, Syria.^[14]

References

1. Schenker, David (2024-11-26). "Lebanon Is a Global Sanctuary for Criminals". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
2. "Salim Ayash, convicted in Rafik Hariri's assassination, reportedly killed in Syria". 2024.
3. "ICD - The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, Assad Hassan Sabra - Asser Institute". www.internationalcrimesdatabase.org. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
4. "Hezbollah's Corruption Crisis Runs Deep | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
5. Schenker, David (2024-11-26). "Lebanon Is a Global Sanctuary for Criminals". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
6. "STL-18-10/I/TC: The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash Decision to Hold Trial in Absentia" (PDF). STL. 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
7. "STL-18-10/I/PTJ: The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash Public Redacted Indictment" (PDF). STL. 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
8. "Salim Jamil Ayyash". Rewards for Justice.
9. "Former Lebanese PM Rafic Hariri's 'Hezbollah assassin' reportedly killed in Israeli strike on Syria". 2024.
10. "STL-11-01/T/TC: The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra Judgment" (PDF). STL. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
11. "STL-11-01/T/TC: The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra Updated Public Redacted Version of the Amended Consolidated Indictment" (PDF). STL. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
12. "STL-11-01/T/TC: The Prosecutor v. Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra Order Terminating Proceedings against Mustafa Amine Badreddine without Prejudice and Ordering the Filing of an Amended Consolidated Indictment" (PDF). STL. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
13. "Hezbollah militant Salim Ayyash given life sentences for Hariri killing". BBC Sport. 11 December 2020.
14. "Hezbollah commander accused in Lebanese PM assassination killed in Syria, reports say". shafaq.com. 10 November 2024.