GAZA CITY: Hamas on Thursday alleged that Israeli spies used Bosnian passports to enter Tunisia and assassinate one of its drone experts as the Palestinian movement announced details of its probe into the December incident.
Tunisian engineer Mohamed Zaouari was shot dead in his car in December 2016 by unknown gunmen, with Hamas accusing Israel of responsibility at the time.
Senior Hamas figure Mohammed Nazzal made the allegations on Thursday in a statement and at a press conference in Beirut.
He said an investigation concluded that a number of agents from Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had operated in Tunisia over several months, including pretending to be foreign journalists in order to get close to Zaouari.
The main two assassins who entered the country before the killing were using Bosnian passports, Nazzal said. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon declined comment. Israel also had not previously commented on the killing.
Israel has previously faced criticism after its agents reportedly used British, Irish, Australian and other passports to assassinate a Hamas leader in the UAE in 2010.
That led to Britain, Ireland and Australia expelling some Israeli diplomats in protest.
Zaouari, 49, was murdered at the wheel of his car outside his house in Tunisia’s second city Sfax on Dec.15 last year.
The engineer and drone expert had worked for a decade with Hamas the group said at the time.
Hamas alleges Israeli spies used Bosnian passports for assassination
Hamas alleges Israeli spies used Bosnian passports for assassination
Jordan begins implementing Royal directives to modernize Arab Army
- On Saturday, it was reported that King Abdullah had announced the strategy
AMMAN: Jordan’s Armed Forces have begun implementing royal directives from King Abdullah II aimed at restructuring and modernizing the Arab Army to strengthen its operational readiness and ability to meet evolving security challenges, it was announced on Sunday.
The overhaul is designed to sharpen combat capabilities and establish a streamlined, flexible force equipped to operate across varied environments, while adapting to the demands of modern and unconventional warfare, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The directives called for closer alignment between organizational structures and operational needs, alongside upgrades to command, control and communications systems.
They also urged stronger integration across military branches and units, as well as expanded use of advanced technologies, including unmanned systems and cyber capabilities.
Plans also include reinforcing reserve forces, improving logistics to ensure reliable supply chains, and supporting Jordan’s defense industries to enhance self-sufficiency and efficiency.
In a statement, the Jordanian Armed Forces said they were fully committed to carrying out the royal directives as part of a broader strategic vision to raise professionalism and preparedness.
On Saturday, it was reported that King Abdullah had announced a strategy “to achieve a structural transformation in the armed forces over the course of the next three years,” Petra said.
In a letter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the King wrote: “Our Arab Army is a national institution that every Jordanian is proud of.”
“We must examine the requirements for modernizing and developing our Armed Forces, while restructuring them to keep pace with combat demands within various environments of operation,” the king wrote.
The king also said the army must have sufficient reserve forces reinforced with the necessary capabilities.
“Our Armed Forces must have sufficient reserve forces, equipped with the various needed capabilities to execute their operations efficiently.”
