Trail of Blood

by Uzi Eilam

  Gideon felt at home in Nahari’s bureau, and made sure the large conference room would be booked for the meeting. Dan joined him, feeling that their activity, including his and Deutsch’s trips to the U.S. and the myriad information his team had collected, needed to be more focused. Nahari asked to include two people in the discussion, and Dan decided also to invite Yonatan, the “Hacker King” from MID who had helped them bounce back from the latest cyberattack.

  “Good morning, lady and gentlemen,” Gideon began. “I’m glad to see you all here. I’ll ask Dan to start with a review that will sum up the information we currently have.”

  “We are indeed dealing with a complex situation, and Gideon was right to point out three areas: countries, people and technological fields,” Dan commenced, peering at the screen of his powerful laptop. “There are connections between terrorist elements and the execution of different kinds of attacks. The activity might originate in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran or Pakistan. We detected, and happily thwarted, a large-scale attack in São Paulo, Brazil, but there is further activity to be monitored in Germany as well. We also have to mention North Korea, which is busy developing and manufacturing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons, with troubling industriousness. They are also impressively cultivating brigades of hackers, and are willing to sell knowledge in all these areas to the highest bidder.”

  “Dan, are we looking for countries? Specific people? Centers where preparations for terror attacks are taking place?” Gideon intervened, evoking murmurs of agreement.

  “If I may,” Noam chimed in leisurely, “I believe we need to locate the source of all these terrorist activities, and focus on seeking out the human source. The point I would start at is the Israeli War of Independence, and what the Palestinians term the Nakba. If there’s a topic that keeps the fires of hatred toward Israel, and Jews in general, burning, it’s the Nakba. The second focus,” Noam continued, noting the extent to which her audience appeared fascinated, “is the First Lebanon War, also referred to as ‘Peace for Galilee’ by Prime Minister Begin. At the end of that war, a massacre took place at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. The Palestinians blamed Israel for the massacre, even though it was overwhelmingly clear that the Christian phalanges were responsible…”

  “These are all well known facts, Noam,” Gideon interjected. “How is this moving us forward?”

  “If we assume,” Noam said, “that those suspected of carrying out revenge operations come from the Palestinians who were exiled to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, we could focus our attention on those who were impacted by the massacre in Sabra and Shatila, which would significantly decrease the pool of suspects.”

  “That’s still quite a large population,” Dan noted. “And we should also take into account that the Hezbollah Organization is comprised mostly of Shiite Lebanese, and not of Palestinians. Imad Mughniyeh is a good example.”

  “I still don’t see, Mrs. Avni,” Deutsch said, “how we can reach clear-cut conclusions and focus our surveillance efforts. Where, more concretely, should we deploy our electronic and optical surveillance systems?”

  “This is where another component, related to a technological capability increasingly evident in terrorist activity, comes into play. This capability includes knowledge of explosives, but beyond that, it includes in-depth fluency in aeronautics, physics and nuclear science. That said, gentlemen, we can’t limit ourselves to advanced technology, and must acknowledge that the psychology of the human factor plays a role as well. I’d recommend applying a filter that would lead to finding the common denominator for all of these components.”

  “We can’t escape significant utilization of Big Data methods in order to screen the information,” Yonatan, the senior hacker from the Military Intelligence Directorate, intervened. “We have already seen the long arm of North Korean cyber in action. We’ve witnessed Mughniyeh and his people’s impressive ability to change their identities, not just when it comes to their appearance, but also in many countries’ databases, as we saw in Germany, and to do so perfectly.”

  The discussion went on for quite a while, and gradually, the direction outlined by Noam emerged as the appropriate one to pursue. Dan could not hide his pride in his wife Noam’s intelligence. Gideon, however, did not reveal how overjoyed he felt as he listened to his daughter speak.

  “Thanks to all of you for everything that came up in the discussion,” Gideon began to wrap up the proceedings. “All of us have a lot of thinking to do in order to conclusively decide on our next steps.”

  ***

  Gideon was sitting in his office the day after the big discussion, diagraming a flow chart of options for himself. A sharp knock on the door jolted him. Dan and the three Talpiot team members came in, obviously excited.

  “We’ve got a near-positive ID of the man by Mughniyeh’s side,” Dan enthused. “He meets all the criteria that Noam set out…”

  “And who is he?”

  “A Palestinian, a refugee who established himself as a lecturer at the University of Beirut, a widower whose wife and children were killed in the Shatila refugee camp massacre…”

  “And his name?” Gideon could feel his gut feeling coming true. He already knew who the man was, but didn’t dare say his name out loud…

  “It is Dr. Nimer Al-Khaldi, Gideon.”

  Gideon bowed his head and did not say a word for a long time. They young men waited patiently, sensing that something extraordinary was going on.

  “I know Nimer a lot better than you think,” Gideon whispered. “I did not know about his academic career, or about the disaster his family experienced. I knew him as a childhood friend before the War of Independence broke out. As a child, he exhibited creativity and advanced technical abilities. He was independent, but also knew how to lead the other kids from the village of Al Khaled. If he’s the scientist accompanying Mughniyeh, he could be very dangerous. He’s acquired a technological education, and much practical experience in developing sophisticated means of sabotage, including advanced communication systems. There’s no doubt that such a combination of experience and skills requires us to stop the man, and sooner rather than later.”

  “We’ll focus our attention on Dr. Nimer,” Dan promised, “and fill in the gaps in our information about him. We’ll need all our smarts, along with advanced use of Big Data techniques, in order to overcome the cyber shield at his disposal. Only then can we identify the additional identities constructed for him, which have allowed him to slip away from our surveillance thus far.”

  “Where is he now?” Gideon persisted, rebounding back to his usual self.

  “He’s still in Teheran,” replied Eviatar from the Mossad, “with Imad Mughniyeh. But they are planning to go to Damascus soon. You can be damn sure that we are not going to lose track of him now.”

  Chapter 32

  The executive plane that the Revolutionary Guard had placed at Mughniyeh and Nimer’s disposal already had its engines running when the two disembarked from the car and climbed the stairs to the plane, accompanied by a smiley flight attendant.

  “The belly of the plane,” Mughniyeh whispered to Nimer, “is loaded with anti-tank missiles manufactured by Iran as well as precision artillery rockets designated for Hezbollah. Electronic components to upgrade Syria’s long-range missiles are also a part of this hidden cargo.”

  The Revolutionary Guard was worried about the possibility of an assassination attempt on Imad Mughniyeh, and had decided to avoid regular commercial flights.

  “As Hezbollah representatives, we have to thank the president of Syria for the aid he is giving us,” Mughniyeh said after the flight attendant seated them in the comfortable armchairs and helped them fasten their seat belts. “This trip, and your efforts to upgrade the Syrian missiles, is an excellent example of the way we contribute and express our gratitude. As you know, we have units fighting against ISIS and other organizations th
reatening the regime. A strong Syria, under the leadership of President Assad, is an important goal in Iran’s strategy. It’s also a vital support for us in Lebanon.”

  “I don’t see the Syrians acting against Israel, Imad. Maybe I’m wasting my time, and missing an important part of my revenge against the Zionist enemy?”

  “Don’t underestimate the Syrians’ role in the battle against Israel. Over the years, they have provided shelter for Palestinian organizations and allowed them to act against Israel from a position of safety. Beyond that, Nimer, improving the Scud-B missiles will pose an intimidating threat to anyone wishing to harm Syria, particularly the Israelis.”

  “Okay,” Nimer sighed. “I understand, and will do all I can both to help Syria and to act in accordance with the requests of the Revolutionary Guard and do General Soleimani’s bidding.”

  Mughniyeh nodded and turned to browse the file of documents that was constantly at his fingertips. Nimer closed his eyes and tried to recall the carefree days in the house in the Shatila camp with his wife and three children.

  I would have been glad to stay in the realm of simple attacks, of the kind we carried out in Lebanon against the Americans, the French and the Israelis. I’d also do a better job of drawing conclusions from the cyber component that caused our attacks in Brazil to flounder, Nimer thought, trying to assess what he was facing now. The strategic realm, whose importance Mughniyeh is trying to sell me on, with the long-range missiles and the development of nuclear weapons, is big and heavy. How can I find the time to handle all these areas, and help various countries and organizations? Is it even in my power to do so, as just one person?

  Nimer awoke from a blissful nap to the sound of the flight attendant’s voice as she asked them to prepare for landing at Damascus International Airport. The tension in anticipation of meeting new people and facing new technological problems that he needed to solve was familiar to him. Curiosity regarding the unknown along with the apprehension that was his constant companion sent a burst of adrenalin through his veins.

  “Our reception will be a positive one,” said Mughniyeh, who was adept at identifying Nimer’s mood and wished to soothe him. “The president wants to meet us before all the meetings scheduled for us. Immediately after landing, we’ll drive to the Presidential Palace. I’ll introduce you to the president using your real name,” Mughniyeh replied to the unasked question. “As far as everyone else is concerned, you’re the same German scientist you have played in the past.”

  The Presidential Palace, in the heart of Damascus, was surrounded by a wall and barbed-wire fences, and army units were present in the command posts set up around it. Mughniyeh and Nimer were greeted with a reception fit for kings, with no delays at the gates, bypassing the usual procedure dictated by the president’s security services. Nimer found the opulent offices and the impressive palace a striking contrast to the impoverished neighborhoods they had driven through on their way from the airport to the palace. Mughniyeh introduced Nimer, praising him extensively. The president sounded calm and knew a lot more than Nimer expected him to about the operations in which Nimer had been involved.

  The president talked about the importance of improving the country’s strategic deployment efforts, attributing much weight to Syria’s power of deterrence with respect to the Zionist enemy. He emphasized the problems that the outdated array of Russian Scud-B missiles imposed upon his units. President Assad did not forget to thank Mughniyeh, and through him, Nasrallah as well, for the contribution of Hezbollah in the war against the terrorists threatening the country. Mughniyeh promised to personally convey the message to Nasrallah, and expressed his faith in Nimer’s ability to upgrade the Syrian missile systems. The president ended the meeting by conveying his regard and emphasizing that they were welcome guests and that their security in Damascus was of the highest priority to his security services.

  The five-star Al Madinah Hotel provided the most pampering experience that their Syrian hosts could offer them. There was no need to stop and check in at the reception desk, and their security detail accompanied them to the second-highest floor. Mughniyeh whispered to Nimer that the professionalism of the Syrian security services was impressive. Staying on the top floor might have offered assassins an easy route of access via the hotel’s roof. Burly men in suits were stationed at both ends of the corridor, their occupation easily discernible. Before they parted ways to go to their rooms, Mughniyeh whispered to Nimer once more that here in Damascus was where he felt safest. They determined to meet once more after getting settled in their rooms and resting a bit.

  Nimer tried to resume analyzing the situation in light of the meeting with the president and Mughniyeh’s clarifications. He tried to prepare for the meetings with the missile personnel, but his wife’s image was haunting him. The ringing of the phone jolted him. It was Mughniyeh, suggesting they meet in the hotel lobby. He said he had some important, urgent updates.

  “What is so urgent? And why are we meeting here, and not in your room or mine?” Nimer queried.

  “The Revolutionary Guard’s senior representative at the Iranian Embassy here brought me an encrypted secret message that only I am authorized to open. I chose to meet here,” Mughniyeh added, “because I am afraid that our hotel rooms might be bugged. Here, in the corner of the lobby and in this noisy public environment, I think we can talk and exposure is less of a risk.” Mughniyeh, who had noticed the security detail settling down at a nearby table, turned to the waiter who showed up immediately to inquire what they wanted to drink, ordering two coffees.

  “This message is a result of research and collection work carried out during the last few weeks. Senior hackers from North Korea and the Revolutionary Guard’s cyber team both took part in this effort. Apparently we are the subjects of serious cyber surveillance by the enemy. The truth is, and you’ve already pointed this out, that we sensed it quite clearly during the failed attacks in Brazil. There were too many communication disruptions to ignore. They have established a first-rate team of cyber people there, working in collaboration with the American CIA and NSA…”

  “That doesn’t sound good. What else was in the communication?” Nimer felt his blood pressure and pulse escalating. “Is there any good news?”

  “Not yet, Nimer, but this message is an indication that I’m on their radar. That’s not new to me, and I’ve learned to live with it. This time, however, the pursuit is closer, and they are emphasizing that we have to be more careful than in the past. At this stage, Nimer, our people haven’t seen any indications that you are particularly vulnerable, and I hope that is indeed the case. There’s one more important piece of information I’ve learned from this communication about the enemy’s preparations. The Israeli Mossad is providing support and assistance to the team that’s tracking us. They have recruited Dr. Gideon Ben Ari, who is familiar to us from past encounters, and Dr. Gerald Deutsch, whom we have also come across before, has arrived from the U.S.”

  “Gideon Ben Ari?” Nimer grew pale. “That’s a blast from the past…”

  “You’ve heard of him? You know who the man is? Both the Iranians and we have him listed as someone who has been recruited to thwart major attacks quite a few times in the past…”

  “If I’m not mistaken, I met Gideon Ben Ari in the distant past. But I’m not sure it is the same man. I’ll have to get additional information and photos in order to be sure.”

  “Okay, Nimer, the bottom line is to proceed with caution. We are supposed to leave in half an hour for our first meeting at the missile facility. See you here in twenty-five minutes?”

  “Will do,” Nimer replied, and Mughniyeh knew his practical partner’s thoughts were still focused on the information included in the communication.

  ***

  Nimer knocked on the door of Mughniyeh’s room and joined him in the elevator going down to the hotel exit. A bodyguard swiftly joined them, going down with them without saying
a word. A black car was waiting for them in the hotel’s front concourse, and Mughniyeh hurried to sit down in the front seat next to the driver. Nimer was still dawdling, exchanging a few words with the bodyguard about the missile base to which they were heading. As he approached the car, an enormous explosion rang out. Nimer was thrown to a distance of more than ten yards away from the car, landing on his back. Giant flames engulfed the car, and no trace remained of Mughniyeh or the driver. An additional member of the security team, who was unharmed, leaped over to Nimer and dragged him to the entrance of the hotel. Soon, Red Crescent ambulance and fire truck sirens echoed from afar. Nimer looked back as the bodyguard dragged him far from the site of the explosion. It was obvious that Mughniyeh was no longer alive.

  The bodyguard supported the stunned Nimer and ushered him out through the hotel’s back door and into the security team’s car while the team guarded the rear exit. An officer from the VIP Security Unit appeared suddenly, telling Nimer, “We’re getting you out of the danger zone. We’ll transport your things to a protected location. And don’t worry, Mughniyeh’s equipment will be conveyed there as well, and you’ll decide what will be done with it.”

  “I want to know exactly what happened, and how they managed to hit Mughniyeh,” Nimer told the officer.

  “The Discovery and Identification Unit have already started to conduct an investigation. Mughniyeh sustained injuries in his upper body, and his head blew up entirely… I’m sorry to update you on this terrible disaster.”

  “We were on our way to the long-range missile base, and I ask that they be informed that I’m going to be somewhat late in meeting them,” Nimer instructed, beginning to bounce back and rebound from the recent events. “The late Imad Mughniyeh would say that under circumstances like this, you have to keep going. After you bring Mughniyeh and my possessions to the new location, I’ll get ready and leave for the meetings scheduled at the missile base.”