CONTRADICTORY REPORTS ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEIRUT ASSASSINATIONS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 07086845
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: October 23, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 25, 2023
• Case Number: F-2019-02115
• Publication Date: June 29, 1976

Approved for Release: 2023/09/12 C07086845
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Contradictory Reports on Responsibility for Beirut
Assassinations
During the past week various sources have pointed to
several different organizations as having been responsible
for the assassination of U.S. Ambassador Francis Meloy,
counselor Robert Waring, and driver Zuhayr Mughrabi in
Beirut. It is not possible at this stage to determine the
accuracy of these reports. (The assassination was described
in the 22 June issue.)
A Lebanese official has stated that Fatah suspects the
assassinations were carried out by three to five members of
the Lebanese Socialist Revolutionary Organization. This
source claimed that contrary to some press reports, Fatah
has identified the killers but does not have them in custody.
On 23 June, apparently in connection with their investi-
gation, Fatah stormed an office of the SRO located near the
Arab University. Three SRO members were killed in the raid
and the organization's leader, Murshid Shibbu, fled.
This organization, also known as the Shibbu gang and
closely related to the Arab Communist Organization, has a
history of anti-American violence and also has attacked
other Western personnel and installations. In about July
1975 several activists of the SRO and/or the AGO were ar-
rested in Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait (see the issues of 15
and 29 July 1975), and the group had been dormant since the
arrests. However, in early 1976 leftist forces overran the
Lebanese prison where several of these terrorists were held,
and all of them were released.
Another Lebanese official said that an investigation
made by some leftist Lebanese leaders revealed that the
ambassador's car was stopped at a roadblock by three young
members of a branch of the Socialist Labor Party. They took
their captives to their leader, a Palestinian, possibly
named 'Umar, who decided that the men should be murdered.
At the conclusion of the investigation the assassins were
picked up for interrogation. When this is completed a press
conference will be called to allow journalists to question
the accused and to satisfy themselves that, in fact, they
are guilty. The murderers will then be executed.
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In contrast to the apparent spur of the moment actions
attributed to the Socialist Labor Party, Iraqi authorities
hold that the abduction and murder of Ambassador Meloy and
his companions were premeditated and that the perpetrators
were responding directly to the orders of the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine. According to the Iraqis,
those involved in the assassinations were alerted as soon as
the ambassador's car left the embassy. (SECRET/NOFORN/NOCON-
TRACT)
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Approved for Release: 2023/09/12 C07086845
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