STL 'Awaiting Responses' from Lebanon on Badreddine's Fate

The U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri announced Tuesday that the in absentia trial of five Hizbullah operatives will continue “pending the receipt of further information from the government of Lebanon regarding the death of the Accused Mustafa Amine Badreddine.”

In an oral decision issued Tuesday, the STL Trial Chamber said that “the Judges do not believe that sufficient evidence has yet been presented to convince them that the death of Mr. Badreddine has been proved.”

The Trial Chamber also noted that “the Prosecution has outstanding requests for assistance sent to the government of Lebanon seeking further information relating to what happened to Mr. Badreddine and is awaiting responses.”

The three judges who constitute the Trial Chamber made the decision by majority, with one dissenting opinion.

Hizbullah has announced that Badreddine was killed in Syria on May 11 when "artillery bombardment carried out by takfiri groups" targeted one of its positions near the Damascus international airport.

It did not name any specific group, and there has been no claim of responsibility.

Badreddine was on a U.S. terror sanctions blacklist, was a key suspect in Hariri's 2005 assassination and was one of the "most wanted" by Israel.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has announced that Badreddine "was one of the first to join the resistance in its beginnings" to fight the Israeli occupation after it was founded in 1982 with help from Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

After climbing up the ranks, Badreddine took on "main military responsibilities" at Hizbullah between 1995 and 1999, according to Nasrallah.

"When Hizbullah decided to enter Syria, the commander was given the responsibility to lead Hizbullah's military and security units in Syria," said Nasrallah in a recent speech.

Hizbullah's chief has dismissed the STL as a conspiracy against his group, rejecting any cooperation with it and vowing that the Hizbullah fugitives will never be found.

Last month, resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stressed that Lebanese authorities will cooperate with the STL should it request DNA samples to confirm Badreddine's death.

Rifi noted that any STL request would be “referred to the public prosecutor's office, which would task the relevant authorities with conducting necessary DNA tests or any other measures that are aimed at unveiling the truth and fulfilling justice.”

Y.R.