Hezbollah Suicide Bomber Sent to Jerusalem in 1996 Dies in Lebanon

Hussein Makdad, a member of Hezbollah's Unit 1800, died in Lebanon after years of suffering from severe injuries. In 1996, Makdad was sent on a suicide bombing mission to Jerusalem by then Hezbollah Chief of Staff Imad Mughniyeh. On April 4, 1996, he entered Israel via Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from Switzerland using a forged British passport. He carried a radio device concealing an explosive charge. Makdad stayed in central Israel for several days before moving to Jerusalem, where he aimed to assassinate then Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

On April 12, while preparing the bomb at the Lawrence Hotel in East Jerusalem, the device detonated prematurely, severely injuring Makdad. He was subsequently captured by Israeli authorities. In 1998, Makdad was released to Lebanon in a prisoner exchange deal for the body of Shayetet 13 commando Itamar Ilia, who died in the Ansariya naval disaster in southern Lebanon. After returning to Lebanon, Makdad served as a Hezbollah propaganda operative. He passed away today, 30 years after the attempted attack.