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An Overview of Middle Eastern (b)(3) Terrorism in 1986

Reactions by the state sponsors to these measures varied. In the immediate aftermath of the airstrikes, Qadhafi responded with a series of terrorist actions, but Libyan activity slackened somewhat in the last half of 1986:

The Middle East kept its place as the principal venue for international terrorist attacks in 1986 and, consistent with recent years, accounted for approximately. half of all incidents worldwide. State-supported terrorists—backed by Libya, Syria, and Iran-reached unprecedented levels of violence in several dramatic attacks that occurred mostly in Western Europe. In Lebanon, the kidnapings of hostages continued un-. abated last year-two Americans were released, but one was killed and three more kidnaped. Warring militias-particularly Palestinians and all stripes of Lebanese Christians and Muslims—waged vicious internecine battles, and year's end saw the involvement of many Middle Eastern terrorist groups in the war of the camps in Beirut. (b)(3)

• Circumstantial evidence points to Libyan involvement in the shooting of a US Embassy communicator in Khartoum one day after the strike on Tripoli.

(b)(1) (b)(3)

State-Sponsored Terrorism: A Year of Spectacular Violence In 1986, Libya and Syria were the major state sponsors to use terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy. Terrorists backed or directly guided by those countries carried out attacks that resulted in unprecedented international political and military repercussions:

• In Ankara authorities apprehended two Libyans on

18 April as they approached the US. Officers' Club to attack it with grenades received from the Libyan People's Bureau. The Libyans said they had been instructed to cause the maximum amount" of US casualties.

O

• The United States responded to evidence of Libyan

involvement in the bombing of the La Belle discotheque in West Berlin in April by launching retaliatory airstrikes against Tripoli and Banghazi.

Libya probably had a role in the shooting in Sanaa, North Yemen, of another US diplomat on 25 April.

ects under arrest include a Libyan.

T(b)(3)ects

• The United Kingdom broke off diplomatic relations The level of Libyan terrorist activity. dropped in the

with Damascus after Syria was implicated in the period from the last week in April through mid-July, attempted bombing of an El Al airliner at Heathrow but Tripoli resumed terrorist planning in midsummer. Airport after the conviction of Nizar Hindawi, the We believe the August attack on the British Air Force terrorist who gave his unwitting girlfriend a bag base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was a Libyan-instigated packed with explosives to carry on board. Moreover, operation intended as further retaliation against BritLondon led the effort to urge the European Commu- ain for allowing American aircraft based in the nity to impose economic sanctions on Damascus. United Kingdom to be used in the airstrikes.

(b)(3)" • West Germany temporarily recalled its Ambassador

from Damascus after discovering Syrian complicity in the March bombing of the German-Arab Friendship Union in West Berli(b)(3)

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Secret DI TR 0-006 26 March 1987

Approved for Release: 2017/09/13 C05922886