Israel’s elite naval commando unit Shayetet 13 was behind the assassination of Syrian General Muhammad Suleiman in 2008, The Intercept has reported, citing classified NSA documents. According to the report, the American intelligence agency learned of the operation by monitoring communications signals of the Israel Defense Forces.
The files are among those revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden provide the first official confirmation that the IDF was behind Suleiman’s assassination. After shooting the Syrian general in the head and neck while he was hosting a dinner party at his seaside weekend home near Tartus, Syria, the report says, the Israeli naval commandos escaped via the sea.
A top-secret entry in the NSA’s internal version of Wikipedia, called Intellipedia, says the assassination, is the “first known instance of Israel targeting a legitimate government official,” the report says.
Suleiman was involved in Syria’s nuclear project and was appointed by Syrian President Bashar Assad to lead contacts with Iran and Hezbollah.
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NSA file reveals Israel behind 2008 assassination of Syrian general – Diplomacy and Defense