U.N. chief closes tribunal based to probe 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister

BEIRUT — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has closed a world tribunal that was created to research the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the U.N. chief’s spokesperson mentioned Sunday.

Over the years, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon held in absentia proceedings and located three members of the militant Hezbollah group responsible in reference to Hariri‘s dying in an enormous Feb. 14, 2005 truck bombing.

The tribunal based mostly in The Hague, Netherlands, sentenced the three – Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Hassan Oneissi – to 5 concurrent sentences of life imprisonment.

Hezbollah officers have repeatedly denied that members of the group had been concerned within the suicide assault and refused to take care of the tribunal. The bombing killed Hariri and 21 others, and wounded 226.

The trial judges had mentioned there was no proof Hezbollah’s management or Syria had been concerned within the assault however famous the assassination occurred as Hariri and his political allies had been discussing whether or not to name for Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric mentioned in an announcement Sunday that the Special Tribunal was established to strive these answerable for the assault following the adoption of a 2007 Security Council decision. The tribunal’s jurisdiction additionally prolonged to different assaults that had been judicially decided to be “connected” to Hariri‘s assassination.

At the start of 2023, Guterres prolonged the panel’s mandate till Dec. 31 “for the limited purpose of completion of the non-judicial residual functions” and “for the orderly closure of the Special Tribunal.” The secretary-general famous Sunday that these duties had been completed and the tribunal shut down, Guterres mentioned.

“The secretary-general expresses his deep appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the judges and staff at the Special Tribunal throughout the years,” Dujarric mentioned. He added that Guterres additionally appreciated the help offered by the Lebanese authorities, the federal government of the Netherlands because the host state, and member states that participated within the tribunal’s administration committee.