How close surveillance helped eliminate Samir Kuntar
Defense establishment refuses to comment on Samir Kuntar hit, but notes it keeps track of whereabouts of senior terrorists globally.
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By Kobi Finkler
First Publish: 12/20/2015, 11:34 AM
Surveillance
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Although the Israeli defense establishment has refused to address reports about the
assassination of arch-terrorist Samir Kuntar and 10 other Hezbollah operatives overnight Sunday, it is evident that only with accurate information in real time could the hit have been done.
Security officials have explained in the past that intelligence forces' ability to locate a meeting of several senior terrorists in one place is the result of praiseworthy and consistent intelligence work, including quality teamwork.
In the past, when Major General Aviv Kochavi served as the Military Intelligence Director he taught his subordinates the need for close and methodical surveillance, emphasizing the importance of human efforts along with technological equipment.
Even today, when Maj. Gen. Kochavi serves as IDF Northern Command Head, he has maintained close ties with intelligence men and especially his replacement, Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi, regarding the close surveillance of terrorist chiefs in the Syrian Golan area.
In the last few years these terror chiefs have been organizing cells active in both gathering information and recruiting fighters against Israel and against so-called Syrian rebels.
Nearly a year ago, a number of senior Hezbollah operatives in the Syrian Golan were
eliminated in an IAF strike, including Jihad Mughniyeh and an Iranian field commander under the overall command of Samir Kuntar.
Watch: Site of airstrike which killd Samir Kuntar