Hezbollah commander Ali Hassan Deeb (Dib), also known as Abu Hassan (Salame), was killed in a 16 August 1999 (Toronto Star 18 Aug. 1999) car bomb attack in the Lebanese port of Sidon (Saida) (ibid.; The Economist 21 Aug. 1999). His death occured in the explosion of a roadside bomb (Toronto Star 18 Aug. 1999; InterNat.com 15 Sept. 1999) as he was driving along one of the streets of the "Abra" neighbourhood of Saida (Radio Lebanon 16 Aug. 1999), when his vehicle reached the top of a hill where traffic usually slows down (InterNat.com 15 Sept. 1999). The best explanation provided by Lebanese secret services is that the bomb may have been activated by remote command from an Israeli aircraft flying over the city (InterNat.com 15 Sept. 1999). In retaliation, Hezbollah fighters killed at least two Israeli soldiers and wounded seven others in Southern Lebanon (Toronto Star 16 Aug. 1999; The Economist 21 Aug. 1999). Ali Deeb, aged 42, had been linked to the Hezbollah for 15 years (EFE News Service 17 Aug. 1999). In 1996, his car was targeted by an Israeli helicopter while he was driving south of Beirut (ibid.). Two of his passengers were killed in the attack (ibid.)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

The Economist [London]. 21 August 1999. "Politics this Week." (NEXIS)

EFE News Service. 17 August 1999. "Lebanon-Israel; One Dead and Two Others Wounded in Hezbollah Attack." (NEXIS)

InterNat.com. 15 September 1999. Vol. 8, No. 13. "Une exécution 'High Tech'." http://www.inter-nat.com/v08_99/n1308_milit.html [Accessed 23 Nov. 2001]

Radio Lebanon [Beirut, in Arabic]. 16 August 1999. "Al-Huss Condemns Killing of Hizballah Official." (FBIS-NES-1999-0816 16 Aug. 1999/WNC)

The Toronto Star. 18 August 1999. "Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Hezbollah Revenge." (NEXIS)