Argentine judge calls for detention of four Lebanese citizens in AMIA bombing probe

A federal judge in Argentina has requested Interpol to apprehend four Lebanese individuals in order to question them about their suspected involvement in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center, which resulted in the death of 85 people. In a resolution dated June 13, Judge Daniel Rafecas stated “Regarding these individuals, there are well-founded suspicions that they are collaborators or operational agents of the … armed wing of Hezbollah”.

Argentine prosecutors have accused Iranian officials of orchestrating the attack through Hezbollah, although Iran has consistently denied any involvement. The United States and Argentina both classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Rafecas is currently seeking the Lebanese individuals, many of whom have connections to the porous tri-border area that links Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. This region has long been identified by the United States as a hotspot for terrorism financing.

Specifically, Rafecas has requested the apprehension of Hussein Mounir Mouzannar, who possesses a Paraguayan national ID and may be residing in Paraguay or Brazil. Additionally, Farouk Abdul Hay Omairi, a Brazilian citizen through naturalization, is being sought with his last known address located on the Brazilian side of the tri-border region. The other two individuals sought for questioning are Ali Hussein Abdallah, who holds both Brazilian and Paraguayan passports as a Brazilian citizen, and Abdallah Salman, believed to be residing in Beirut.