Sami Shehab Admits Taking Instructions from Hizbullah to Attack Israeli Tourists in Sinai
Key Hizbullah suspect detained in Egypt Sami Shehab has reportedly admitted to being involved in a Hizbullah plot to attack Israeli tourists in Sinai.
The daily Asharq al-Awsat on Monday quoted well-informed sources as saying that investigation by Egypt”s state security prosecution office has uncovered that Shehab, who is held in Cairo on suspicion of planning attacks, admitted to taking instructions from Hizbullah to strike against Israeli tourists in Sinai.
Shehab said that the decision came following the assassination of top Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus in February 2008.
He said Sudanese and Syrians, in addition to Egyptians, were among those involved in the plan.
The sources said Shehab acknowledged that he is in charge of Hizbullah operations in Egypt and that the Lebanon-based party has decided to adjust the plan and demanded that the key suspect stops monitoring Israeli tourists.
Shehab instead was given instructions to go back to the "original mission," which focused on smuggling Palestinian fighters and explosions into Gaza and the depth of Israel.