 Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S) |
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Hezbollah operative captured during the ongoing confrontation admitted to participating in the abduction of the two IDF soldiers and in a previous abduction attempt of IDF soldiers in the village of Ghajar. The operative told his interrogators that he had undergone training in Iran, where he was sent along with other 40-50 Hezbollah operatives.
Hussein Ali Suleiman, Hezbollah terrorist who was captured
(photograph: IDF Spokesman)
- During the IDF campaign against Hezbollah terrorists, 22-year-old Shi'ite Hussein Ali Suleiman from Beirut 's Burj al-Barajneh was captured. He admitted his involvement in the abduction of the two IDF soldiers on July 12, which led to the current confrontation.
- In a filmed interview conducted with the captured operative, two main issues came up:-
a. Iran 's direct involvement in the training of Hezbollah operatives. Hussein Suleiman revealed in the interview details about the training he underwent ever since he enlisted to the organization when he was 16. His basic instruction included religious classes, fighters' course (using arms including anti-tank weapons, explosives, communications, and first aid) and regional commanders' course. Hussein Suleiman added that he also underwent training in Iran along with 40-50 other Hezbollah operatives. On their way to Iran , they crossed the Syrian-Lebanese border through the military border crossing, without stamping the passports either in Syria or in Iran , in order to try to conceal their travel to Iran .
b. His involvement in Hezbollah's attempts to abduct IDF soldiers :-
1) On November 21, 2005, Hussein Suleiman took part in an attempt to abduct an Israeli soldier in the village of Ghajar , which was thwarted by the IDF. 1 During the operation, he launched a few Russian-made Faggot anti-tank missiles towards Israeli tanks in one of the IDF posts in Har Dov (on the southwestern slopes of the Hermon Mountain) in order to prevent sending Israeli reinforcement to the village of Ghajar.
2) On July 12, 2006, he participated in the abduction of the two soldiers near the Israeli village of Zar'it . In this operation, too, his task was to launch Faggot anti-tank missiles towards Israeli tanks in order to prevent them from chasing the abductors. Hussein Suleiman claimed that he was not involved in all the details of the planned abduction but rather knew about it in general.
Russian-made Faggot anti-tank missile, captured from Hezbollah by the IDF
during the confrontation (photograph: IDF Spokesman)
- Enclosed is a video clip of the interview conducted with Hussein Ali Suleiman, which was distributed by the IDF Spokesman.
1 See our Information Bulletin dated November 23, 2005: “Hezbollah attacks along Israel 's northern border to cover an attempted abduction of Israeli soldiers”. (http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/eng_n/hezbollah_eb1105.htm ).