Mugniyeh taught Al Qaeda how to make truck bombs that actually go “BOOM”, (see Aden Hotel attacks for more info) and also taught Al Qaeda their supposed signature technique of mulitple, simultaneaus attacks, during AQ initited consultations in Sudan, circa 1994.
Traditionally, neither Hezbollah nor Hamas respond directly to targeted assassinations. Instead, the provocation adds to the background radiation and is dissipated during larger, more significant general offensives or planned political-military maneuvers.
Operationally, Mugniyeh was probably inert. He knew a lot of people, he had a big rep, he pioneered many terrorist techniques, but he appears to have been in semi-retirement, trotted out for appearances, while generally workiung behind the scenes monitoring and assessing training operations. His techniques are now part of the public domain, and his loss will not significantly reduce terrorist capabilities, since others can take over where he left off.
All that said, I’m thrilled somebody finally punched his ticket and I’ll happily volunteer to water his grave, even if it requires standing in a long waiting line. A victory like this is second only to the violent death of Al Zawahiri, in my opinion.
President Bush 41 has been quoted as saying one of the things he regrets most about his term was that he was unable to bring Mugniyeh and Zawahiri to justice.
W. F. Buckley, CIA station chief, Beiruit, rest in peace:
(edited post #137 to keep the photo from running off the page..)