Who did NOT kill Elie Hobeika ? at The Ouwet Front: A Lebanese Forces Blog

Who did NOT kill Elie Hobeika ?

Posted by N10452

This is the question to ask when it comes to investigating Elie Hobeika’s assasination.
Elie Hobeika was a threat to so many local and foreign political parties, to so many countries and governments and most importantly to secret services.

On the 24th of January 2002, at 9:42 am, Elie Hobeika, known as HK, was driving his his blue Range Rover from his home in Hazmieh,with his three bodyguards, Dmitri Ajram, Walid Zein and Faris Suedan, when a white Mercedes 280, parked in a basement garage level with the road, blew up. An estimated 10 kilos of explosives (TNT or C4 not confirmed) blasted Hobeika’s vehicle across the narrow highway, killing all four men instantly.

His 4th year memorial mass took place last week on the 24th of January 2007 in Badaro after a small prayer took place on the murder scene in Hazmieh.

history of HK:

Hobeika was born in Kleiat, Lebanon in 1956, he finished his studies at 22 and joined the Kataeb (Lebanese Phalange) party and started climbing the ranks until he was promoted in 1979 to security chief of the Lebanese Forces as head of Intelligence[...]

HK joined Hakim in 1985 in the first intifada to force the resignation of the commander of the Lebanese Forces back then, Fouad Abu Nader, considered too close to Amine Gemayel who disliked the LF and wanted to rejoin it to the Kataeb (Phalange party).

HK then pronounced himself head of the executive committe in the LF and signed the unfamous Tripartite Accord with Nabih Berri and Walid Jumblatt under Syria’s blessing.

Samir Geagea later on removed HK from the LF command in 1986, ironically assisted by Amine Gemayel, and assumed the leadership of the LF till today. Hakim ( Samir Geagea) spared Elie Hobeika’s life back then after several calls from Syrian officials were done with Lebanese officials, mainly Michel Aoun head of the army back then , Pakradoni and Michel el Murr whose son was stuck in the same building with HK when the LF troops loyal to Samir Geagea surrounded them.

Since then, Elie Hobeika shaded from politics and ran away to Syria for a while before trying to reclaim the LF leadership assisted by Syrians, but failed miserably. He then took over few ministries(Displaced, Social Affairs & Handicapped, Energy) till 2000 when he lost his parliament seat.

Assasination of HK:

Most of the analysis and articles written on his assasination conclude that several external parties were involved directly or indirectly in his assasination, and some even go as far as saying that HK was on the list of targetted people by the US administration after the 9-11 terrorist acts in 2001.

Here is a very interesting approach i read entitled:
Elie Hobeika # 1 Victim of Illegal Assassinations of the US Administration of GWB & CIA

DEC. , 2006- On September 15, 2001, just four days after the 9-11 attacks, CIA Director George Tenet provided President [sic] Bush with a Top Secret “Worldwide Attack Matrix”-a virtual license to kill targets deemed to be a threat to the United States in some 80 countries around the world. The Tenet plan, which was subsequently approved by Bush, essentially reversed the executive orders of four previous U.S. administrations that expressly prohibited political assassinations. Mr. Elie Hobeika will be the first target of the US administration, to pave the way for its Iraq Invasion[..]

Hobeika headed the Lebanese forces intelligence agency since the mid- 1970s and he soon developed close ties to the CIA. He was a frequent visitor to the CIA’s headquarters at Langley, Virginia. After the Syrian invasion of Lebanon in 1990, Hobeika held a number of cabinet positions in the Lebanese government, a proxy for the Syrian occupation authorities. He also served in the parliament. In July 2001, Hobeika called a press conference and announced he was prepared to testify against Sharon in Belgium and revealed that he had evidence of what actually occurred in Sabra and Shatilla. Hobeika also indicated that Israel had flown members of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) into Beirut International Airport in an Israeli Air Force C130 transport plane, in full view of dozens of witnesses, including members of the Lebanese army and others. SLA troops under the command of Major Saad Haddad were slipped into the camps to commit the massacres. The SLA troops were under the direct command of Ariel Sharon and an Israeli Mossad agent provocateur named Rafi Eitan. Hobeika offered evidence that a former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon was aware of the Israeli plot. In addition, the IDF had placed a camera in a strategic position to film the Sabra and Shatilla massacres. Hobeika was going to ask that the footage be released as part of the investigation of Sharon.[..]

If you read the full report, you will conclude that Sharon had a hand in his assasination given the fact that HK was killed within few hours of a hearing before a Belgian appeals court, dealing with the Sabra & Shatilla massacre whereas Hobeika was the prime witness against Sharon.

But back in 2002, Israelies could not have possibly executed such an operation without the Syrian ‘approval’ or at least knowledge, without forgetting the undeclared ties between Damascus and Israel forged during the rule of Hafez El Assad.

As for the CIA, HK was know to be a frequent visitor of the CIA headquarters and had strong ties with them. He announced in 2001 that he was ready to testify against Sharon and that he had proof that the SLA troops were involved in the massacre of Sabra & Chatilla and that a former U.S ambassador knew about the plot.

Syria was involved throught Bahjat Suleiman who had ties with the American intelligence and through its agents in Lebanon, mainly Jamil el Sayyed who was in charge of executing such assasinations and Ghazi Kanaan, Syria’s coordinator in Lebanon .

In an interesting approach from the MEIB Intelligence Report, the author points out that after 9/11, Hobeika attempted to win American support by contacting the CIA to offer his help in locating and capturing Imad Mughniyah, the former head of special overseas operations for Hezbollah who is listed on the Bush administration’s most wanted terrorist list.

It appears that the Syrians, who maintain close ties with Mughniyah, discovered Hobeika’s attempts to contact the CIA[..]

Who would have opposed this murder on the local level ?

Hobeika was ‘feared’ by most of the political leaders in Lebanon and was hated by many cause of his practices in the past ( his bodyguard Robert Hatem ‘Cobra’ who is still hiding till today in France wrote 2 books on him already, unavailable in the Lebanese bookstores though).

HK’s machievalian acts turned everyone against him and few tears were shed when he was murdered. No one except his wife, Gina Hobeika, and head of the Waad party that HK founded, keeps asking for the truth on her husband’s murder.

This year, the billboards showed the blown car that killed Hobeika with a title : The truth starts from here ( 24/01/2002) refering to the date Hobeika was murdered at.

Few days before his assasination, during the funeral of a close ally and confidante, former MP Jean Ghanem, who died on January 14 from injuries sustained in a car crash in Hazmieh, Hobeika was quoted saying (in Al-Sharq al-Awsat(London)) “that the latter’s death was not accidental.”

In his article entitled ‘Elie Hobeika: lady-killer and blood-soaked war criminal’, Robert Fisk ends by saying:

“My last message from Elie was that bottle of champagne: a magnum of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé 1988. I never drank it. I felt it was contaminated. It lay in my fridge here in Beirut last night. I know many in Lebanon would like to drink it in celebration. But I suspect that, if I uncorked it, blood would spurt out.”

Finally,
Who killed Hobeika ? Will we ever know the truth behind his assasination ?

The truth is everyone wanted him dead.

Filed under: Editorials
Posted by N10452 on 01.30.07 @ 9:01 pm |

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26 Comments. Add your own...

1. eramzi | January 30th, 2007 at 9:17 pm

You have done some impressive research. Regardless of HK’s political alliances and views I always admired his dedication. Keep up the good work.
2. Ziad | January 30th, 2007 at 10:27 pm

I never could stand this man..
My opinion is that he was a Syrian agent since the very beginning, and I blame him for the beginning of the fall of the LF.
3. Jad1984 | January 30th, 2007 at 10:45 pm

briefly ..
He killed my uncle Martyr Elie Daou (RIP)

Alla yir7am elie hbeika 2ad ma byistehil
4. paul | January 30th, 2007 at 11:24 pm

he was the best men in the LF.and if some one think that he was a syrian agent ,so show me one LF leader ma ra7 3a souriya .he was not only a leader ,he was also a big intelligent politician .the LF need him and Akram and lmar7oum michel zwein,aktar min ayyi wakten mada,ma3 i7tirame lalkill bilouwet
5. paul | January 30th, 2007 at 11:33 pm

and by the way…cobra akbar youdas 3irfo tarich libnen almou3aser walkadim .keep this men away from lebanon
6. djuan | January 31st, 2007 at 12:26 am

We all know that israel killed elie . He died taking with him top secrets and major issues. keep in mind ino laman atalo elie ken fi ma7kame douwaliye dod charon w siyessto bi lebnen ,achen hek tayarou la elie otherwise ken ba3do 3yech la hala2. In conclusion elie was very dangerous man he fought agianst LF taking nabih berry as a partner in 1985,i remember when he invated basta reliying on haraket amal guys ,that’s when they named him ABOU ALI HOUBAYKA ! on top sabra and chatilla …elie is another mossad victim !
7. Shadow | January 31st, 2007 at 8:53 am

Definitely we feel sorry for the death of Elie hobeika (HK) and we ask God to rest his soul in Peace .

On the other hand, Elie has moved to different locations during Civil War. From a very well known in Lebanese Forces head of Lebanese Forces intelligence and the strong man of Lebanese Forces to the totally opposite location , he moved to be an ally with sleiman frangieh , syrians , 3assem kansso, awmeh soureh , walid junblat , nabih berri , palestiniens. We all remember during that time christians and manata2et sharkiyeh was totally against itife2 thouletheh.I saw on jazeerah one documentary about that stage and Elie Hobeika was saying there was a meeting between jabha lebneniyeh in the presence of a priest or metran Sorry i forgot his name , at that meeting Samir Geagea and all other members of jabha tried to convice Elie hobeika to withdraw men heda itttife2 w houweh 2al anou samir Geagea Told him shu mabadak bel Ouwet bi sir w ana betnzal 3an li baddak yeh bass nsseheb men itife2 , Elie assar anou houweh me2tene3 fi w moush lah yenssseheb se3eta metran dakhal w allou mouhem mayssir clashes between both of u rad Elie anou clashes lah ysir w heik sar w kenet war between LF and LF a stupid war that makes many guys die and weakened LF and split it . Most of the LF supported Samir Geagea and jabha lebneniyeh ded syrian and Elie wihdrew from manta2a sharkiyeh .

Whose responsible for his death is a big question .
I beleive knows many important and dangerous things that will make you confused to put responsability on one party .

I beleive that syrian and Israel with the known of US intelligence all together agreed to kill him. ken fi tahsebok massaleh and for them people like playing cards they kill whoever they want and then they put an x on this playing card and by the way this is not the first time ISrael and syrian intelligence btetshebak maslehton bi lebnan hatta bel hareb lebneniyeh men tal za3tar lah hareb jabal w la sabra shatila ..

Nshalah christians yetwahadou w yet3alamou men hal eshya .
8. bibo | January 31st, 2007 at 7:01 pm

Syria killed him. Dont forget he was the head of security when Bashir was assasinated as well. Big ??? on him. he had something to do with Bashir death.
9. zoufa | February 2nd, 2007 at 7:45 pm

it could be a palestian revenge though…
10. charbel | February 2nd, 2007 at 10:56 pm

lk allah ouwet HAKIM w bass w ma ba2a 7ada yjarreb ye2na3ne
11. sadam | February 4th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

Who kiled him ,
well it could be any of ISRAEL+SYRIA+HZBULLAH+USA but my conviction is that it he was killed by Hi
12. sadam | February 4th, 2007 at 4:34 pm

he was killed by HIZBULLAH ( the leb army knew about it ) under syrian orders -
and in cooperation with mossad
13. sadam | February 4th, 2007 at 4:34 pm

SADAM
14. Youcef Nader | February 7th, 2007 at 10:55 pm

These days, as Lebanese & especially as christians we’re missing leaders of the calibre of HK;he just was unique in his kind,a strategist like no one else could even approach.Elie rest in peace.
15. ~~~~ | March 15th, 2007 at 1:51 am

{1} alla yer7amo w yer7am jami3 l mawta
{2} enno bas b7eb wadi7 l fekra metel ma 2al able one guy enno cobra youdas hayda chi akid cz wa2ta chakhes bi bi3 mabed2o kermel kamchit masare 3eb!!!!!! w yalli bi sadi2 lmaktoub bi hek kteb bi koun sakhif.
{3} ma3am befham chou hel l ossa l 7elf l soulesse yalli 2eymin 2eyemtkoun 3leh mich mazbout ykoun l 2ararat bi 2id ra2is l jamhouriye(mich yalli majoud 7aliyan)bil ejmel lezim l SENNE ye7kemna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HANI2AN LAKON ya massi7iye w by the way ma3le ma nensa enno l HK wel 7AKIM tol3o 3end l BATRAK SFEIR w 7alafo 3al enjil enno byomdo 3al 7elf l soulesse
{4} know sar mni7 walid joumblat!!!!!!!!!!
MABROUK 3layna rebe3 cha2fe men lebnanon w yab di3an 7elem l cheikh BACHIR bi 3alam ma test7e2o
16. ~~~~ | March 15th, 2007 at 1:53 am

sorry the last word is TESTEHLO
17. omar | April 3rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm

fi m3aloumet inno ahad il mas2oulin il 2amniyyin bil ouet wara halmawdou3
18. pierre | April 11th, 2007 at 10:22 am

elie hobeika ensen ktir kbir w 3azim l bi 2oul 3ano mejrim ma bya3erfo bass betmanna min chabebo yenso chou sar ma3 l hakim bel hareb w yerja3o la asloun ouwet lebneniye ta ne2wa ne7na l massi7iyyeh w netwa77ad
19. Wetwat | September 20th, 2007 at 9:23 am

After reading the title of this article; I’d raise several questions with hoping to get the right answers!!!

1- Why Elie Hobeika was kicked out the eastern province?
2- Was there no room for re-negotiations?
3- Is it about who will be taking over the leadership of the LF?
4- Who’s the owner of the LF?
5- What’s the value added to LF objectives by the LF leaders who take over after the establisher Bashir?????

Last but not the least, I can 100% assure you that no success without unity.
20. Elie | October 10th, 2007 at 4:43 pm

He was a strong & inteligent man, 2alla yer7amo.
21. guyguo | December 5th, 2007 at 10:36 pm

ya di3anak ya HK
kell chi 2elto sar w ba3do 3am besir w yalli ba3d ma sar akid rah be sir
azka w aham ensen masihi be terikh lebnen
elias joseph hobeika
houwe ases l ouwet
l achrafieh l asses w 3en l remmeneh w fern l chebbak w sen l fil el char2iyeh ma bterka3
w .. amn l moujtama3 l masihi fawka koull i3tibar
22. Rodge | January 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Elie Hobeika has chosen to work in intelligence, and those guys don’tr have any principles and should expect to be killed.

I think he caused a lot of damage to the Christian community, but i think its his nature, and even though i don’t respect him, neither his way in ruling, i hope God will forgive him and i hope his guys can think again and regain their positions i the LF
23. Baron | January 24th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Thank you for such a constructive article.
My despise for Hobeika is almost as powerful as my despise for Aoun. This man is a shame to humanity and to the cause
24. ELIE | January 25th, 2008 at 3:28 am

YA MASSSSSSSSSSSSSI7IYE SALBO IDKON 3A WEJKON
ALLA YER7AM KELL SHAB DA77A MEN EL 1973 LA TARIKHNA
KELLON AKHTA2OU BI MATARE7
H.K KEIN ZALAME W YALLE BI 2OUL GHEIR HEIK BI KOUN 3AM YETKHABA WARA KHYELO
I WISH THAT ONE DAY CHRISTIANS LEBANESE AT ALL LEVELS
LEBANESE FORCES
KATAEB
AHRAR
HORRAS EL AREZ
W EVEN EL MARADA WEL 3AWNIYE
WILL UNDERSTAND ENNO OUR WAR WAS A GAME AND WE WERE THE PLAYERS
2OUMO, NTOFDO…
ENTO AKBAR MEN EL MASI7 !!!
MINKON ENTO TA MA TSEM7O
EL MADE RA7
BI HAYETKON MA TENDAMO 3AL MADE
NDAMO 3A BOUKRA
IZA RA7 NDALL HEIK
LEBNEIN MISH 2ELNA !!!
3EIB…
25. Israeli | January 25th, 2008 at 6:10 am

The only crime HK committed is the crime of a “half ass job” in S&S. He should have extended his actions to other camps, Lebanon would be a very different place by now.
26. hk | February 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 am

ma 2ataltou 100 mara la el ra2eis elie hebayika kabel ma yeghtalou ma hadan stafad min 2atlou gher entou ya ja3ja3 3eyie entou ma tkounou nsitou el 850 ma ykoun el hanoun nesse min 2attal khayou