Lebanon handed over to the UN on Tuesday material provided by Hizbullah that allegedly proves its claim that Israel was responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Hariri, who was known for opposing Syrian interference in Lebanon, was assassinated on February 15, 2005 when explosives were detonated as his motorcade drove past the St. George Hotel in Beirut. Twenty two additional people were killed as a result of the explosion.
During a speech he made last week, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah showed videos that he claims are proof that Israel was behind the killing. One video shows footage, allegedly from Israeli surveillance planes that flew near the site of the assassination, generally attributed to Syria and Hizbullah.
A second video depicted an alleged spy for Israel telling Hariri that Hizbullah was trying to kill him. Nasrallah claimed Israel was trying to cover up its own intentions to assassinate Hariri.
Israel has dismissed Hizbullah’s claims and has called them “ridiculous.” In late July, Nasrallah said that members of Hizbullah will be among those to face charges in the assassination. Regarding the tribunal that looked into the Hariri killing, he said, “As long as it didn't focus on Israeli involvement, it's not an honest tribunal.”
A recently aired Israeli television report said that Hizbullah activist Mustafa Badr Aldin is the main suspect in the assassination.