Who killed Imad Mougniyah?

Posted By Blake Hounshell Friday, February 15, 2008 - 11:19 AM Share

FBI/Getty Images

It seems like a no-brainer that Israel was behind the killing of Hezbollah leader Imad Mougniyah. Israel's Mossad doesn't blanche at assassinations; it has Jewish agents of Arab descent that can blend into a place like Damascus undetected; and the Israelis certainly have ample motive to take him out. Israeli officials, while denying their country's involvement, haven't been able to hide their glee at Mougniyah's death.

While extremely likely, it's not a slam dunk that the Mossad pulled off this hit. Sunni countries in the region -- such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia -- also have the means and the motive to get rid of him, to say nothing of the United States. Nor is it outside the realm of possibility that the Syrians or even the Iranians dropped a dime on Mougniyah in a quid pro quo arrangement with the Americans. The Syrians, though, say they have "irrefutable" evidence of the killer's identity that they will make known soon. Syria still denies involvement in a string of hits on anti-Syrian lawmakers in Lebanon, so the country doesn't have a lot of credibility these days. The revelations will certainly be interesting nonetheless. Pass the popcorn.

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL/PALESTINE, LEBANON, TERRORISM

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