AMU Homeland Security Intelligence Terrorism

Mastermind of Khobar Towers Bombing in Saudi Custody

khobar towers bombing Ahmed al-Mughassil Saudi Arabia
U.S. and Saudi military personnel survey the damage to Khobar Towers in 1996. (DoD photo)

By William Tucker
Chief Correspondent for In Homeland Security

Nearly 20 years after 19 U.S. Airman were killed and another 372 were wounded, the designer of the terrorist plot that targeted the U.S. Air Force barracks at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia is finally in custody. According to Al-Sharq al-Awsat, a Saudi owned newspaper, Ahmed al-Mughassil was captured in Lebanon and turned over to the Saudi Kingdom; however the Saudi government hasn’t yet commented on this development.

Media reports tailing on the original story from Al-Sharq al-Awsat do state that unnamed U.S. officials have confirmed that Mughassil is indeed in custody, but as of yet no light has been cast on how or when the notorious terrorist was captured. It was believed that Mughassil had fled to Iran immediately after the 1996 bombing. Given Mughassil’s close contact to Iranian intelligence and Hezbollah this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The timing of Mughassil’s capture is interesting, though it could be incidental. Regardless, it’ll put Iran’s penchant for supporting terrorist groups worldwide back into the spotlight. According to the initial report, Mughassil was captured in Lebanon disguised in such a way that “he was incredibly difficult to recognize.” It’s certainly possible that good police work or superb intelligence collection uncovered Mughassil, but we cannot ignore the political climate.

The Saudis have every reason to sink the recent nuclear agreement between Washington and Tehran and demonstrating Iran’s terror ties – past and present – may play well with skeptical members of the U.S. Congress. Riyadh has kept a keen eye on Shiite militant groups with Hezbollah and its affiliates at the top of the list. Minding that, Riyadh almost certainly had eyes on the ground in Lebanon collecting intelligence and keeping tabs on terror suspects. Grabbing Mughassil now is a windfall for Riyadh either way.

Another possibility is that Iran gave up Mughassil’s location as part of the now infamous side deals resulting from the lengthy negotiations that culminated in the nuclear accord. The U.S. has wanted the mastermind behind the Khobar attack for 20 years making Mughassil a worthy bargaining chip. It’s also worth noting that Iran has its forces engaged in Syria and Iraq with a large body of intelligence support.

After the Khobar bombing, the U.S. disclosed the identities of numerous Iranian intelligence officers working undercover worldwide as retaliation. Now that Iran has so many forces engaged the chance that ongoing collection efforts could be disrupted would be harmful. To support the negotiations and forces in the field Iran would likely consider giving up a washed up militant, so we cannot discount that possibility.

Granted, this is speculation, but having this terrorist in custody is a good thing regardless of how the capture occurred. After all this time it seems the victims of this horrific bombing will finally get justice.

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