STL Prosecution: Syrian Regime at Core of Hariri Assassination Conspiracy

W460

The Prosecution of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced Tuesday that the Syrian regime was at the heart of the conspiracy that killed ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

At the beginning of its closing arguments at the STL's headquarters in The Hague, the Prosecution also described slain Hizbullah military commander Mustafa Badreddine as the mastermind of the assassination operation.

The Prosecution noted that Badreddine was a senior Hizbullah official and that his military expertise reflected itself in the modus operandi of Hariri's assassination.

It also said that Hizbullah suspect Salim Ayyash led a six-person assassination squad and that there is irrefutable evidence that condemns the four Hizbullah suspects.

Moreover, the Prosecution added that the “green phone network” that oversaw Hariri's assassination fully belonged to Hizbullah.

Prosecutors said their case -- which relies on mobile phone records allegedly showing the suspects conducting intense surveillance of Hariri from just after his resignation until minutes before the blast -- was "circumstantial" but "compelling."

Prosecuting counsel Nigel Povoas said the huge scale of the attack "undoubtedly had a political purpose" linked to Hariri's opposition to Damascus' long involvement in Lebanon.

"The scene was plunged into darkness and horror, cars were eviscerated, incinerated and on fire, people were on fire. Lebanon itself was plunged into darkness and horror, that was exactly what was intended by the attack," he told the court.

"Hariri was perceived by those who supported Syrian control as a severe threat to their interests and security, a proxy of the West," he told the court. "This is the reason, the non-personal motive, behind the crime."

Prosecutors said the suspects had been feted in Tehran and Damascus, Hizbullah's backers.

In its “Final Trial Brief” published on the court's website, the Prosecution had explained the links between Hizbullah and the supposed assassination squads, drawing attention to meetings and phone calls between senior Hizbullah official Wafiq Safa and former Syrian security chief in Lebanon Rustom Ghazaleh that preceded the February 2005 attack.

Explaining the link between political tensions in Lebanon and the activities of the four alleged mobile phone networks that were supposedly used in the assassination, the report says “significant steps taken by the opposition coalition and ultimately by Hariri, their powerful ally, to resist, defy and challenge the Syrian regime's hegemony corresponded with a reaction of the four phone networks.”

Comments 17
Thumb _citizen_ 11 September 2018, 13:36

'patriotic' to Bani Majus

Thumb lubnani.masi7i 11 September 2018, 13:40

"this fake tribunal must give back all wasted money, if not, then Harriri must asume it!"

By the same token, your nassrallah must assume more than $20 billion in economic damages caused as a result of his iranian initiated wars.

Missing imagine_1979 11 September 2018, 13:45

Same fake international “la hague” tribunal solicitated by the oranian regime to sue the usa over taxes and sanctions... logic al SANA/manar style....

Thumb smarty 11 September 2018, 13:41

⚠ Never Forget !

Missing imagine_1979 11 September 2018, 13:44

“now is insisting on repeating on and on that Mustafa Badreddine is the guilty because he made a phone call from within the area of the explosion.. “ do u really believe what u are writting???? Does this look so stupid to u?? Or does israel wanting killing syria regime opponents one after the other looks more credible....
Are u just that brainwashed? And being a southern and so patriotic can u tell us if hezbos have a history in assassination of polical opponent just to see on what level of credibility u work on....
Patriotic indeed...

Thumb justin 11 September 2018, 14:11

لبنان الى العالمية مجددًا… نهر الغدير يبهر الصحافة الغربية

نشرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، الثلاثاء، الفيديو الذي بات يعرف على نطاق واسع باسم”نهر الزبالة”، وظهر عقب فيضانات غير مسبوقة ضربت البلاد في اليومين الماضيين، معتبرة أنه يعكس الأزمة الأوسع التي تعيشها البلاد.

ويظهر الفيديو، المخلفات من أكياس القمامة وزجاجات فارغة وصناديق الورق المقوى، وهي تطفو فوق المياه المتدفقة بين الأحياء السكنية في الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت، معقل ميليشيات حزب الله اللبناني.

https://www.lebanese-forces.com/2018/09/11/lebanon-to-the-world-again/

Thumb justice 11 September 2018, 14:53

If I had but one bullet and were faced by both an enemy and a traitor like 'patriotic', I would let the 'patriotic' traitor have it.

Thumb marcus 11 September 2018, 16:56

One bullet might not be enough. You need to empty a full magazine.

Thumb justice 11 September 2018, 14:55

Iran Arrests Theater Duo over Shakespeare Trailer
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/250475-iran-arrests-theater-duo-over-shakespeare-trailer

Thumb shab 11 September 2018, 16:55

lool

Thumb fakenews 11 September 2018, 15:24

Brilliant way to sidestep the fact that Syria was at the heart of the conspiracy that killed Rafik Hariri. But have no worry patriotic all of the people involved in the assassination're getting whacked in Syria usually in very creative ways. So none will tattletale. Mughnieh was killed inside the most secured compound in Syria, secured by Assef Shawkat intelligence service. Shawkat was blown up by the FSA as AlQaeda was going to be blamed for the Samaha-Mamlouk bombings. Kanaan was suicided by shooting himself in the back of the head, twice. Then he stabbed himself then hanged himself or something like that. For good measure he called VDL radio live minutes before offed himself. Ghazaleh was murdered on Iranians orders allegedly following a personal dispute. Badreddine died performing his jihadi duty, of course he did, although not before he was spotted in Ashrafieh casing the area of Wissam al-Hassan's safe house where al-Hassan was soon assassinated. Ayyash and the 5 future martyrs.

Thumb Spotter 11 September 2018, 16:32

Half huthi Half irani Troll Spotted
Logged Tagged and Processed

Thumb marcus 11 September 2018, 16:55

@POS

The only thing that is Fake here is you, your alias, and your avatar. You are an iranian good for nothing @POS!

Thumb justin 11 September 2018, 17:26

***read know it.

Thumb beatryce 11 September 2018, 18:12

Je m'inquiète trop pour Jaafar

Thumb SupportBeirut 11 September 2018, 18:53

Komirade patriotic everyone is who is anti mother Syria is a pro Zionist collaborator, it's always been the case

Elie Ferzli accused Michel Aoun of collaborating with the Zionist lobby against Lebanon and Syria. (الاتجاه المعاكس الجزيرة 17/09/2002)

Thumb rolfmao. 12 September 2018, 01:48

OK blatriotic, now that Iran has done this can you ask them to put some effort into fighting Syrian and Iranian terrorism, these are the ones we in Lebanon as suffering from the most. I'll personally thank Iran if it does this. I swear.