Mr. Abdel Halim Khaddam, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, survived a heinous assassination attempt at Abu Dhabi Airport, which claimed the life of his host, Mr. Saif bin Ghobash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
Minister Khaddam, who cut short his visit to Abu Dhabi and returned to Damascus yesterday, said that the assailant who carried out the heinous assassination attempt came from Baghdad, used a Polish-made automatic pistol, and fired 36 rounds, resulting in the martyrdom of Mr. Saif bin Ghobash. Minister Ghobash was hit by three bullets in his chest and shoulder, collapsing in the airport’s passenger lounge. He later died in the military hospital.
In a phone call with Al-Anwar’s correspondent in Abu Dhabi, it was confirmed that the assailant was 19 years old, born in Baghdad, held a Jordanian passport, and had entered the country secretly by sea. He received instructions via coded messages through the radio. During the investigation, the assailant still somewhat believed that he had killed Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam, as Minister Ghobash had been wearing a similar suit. The assailant fired 20 rounds from a small automatic weapon and was found to be carrying a pistol as well. The Syrian chargé d’affaires in Abu Dhabi tried to apprehend the assailant, but the latter shot at him and missed.
After the incident, Minister Khaddam traveled on a private plane belonging to the UAE.
London Radio reported that three armed men were involved in the incident, two of whom escaped, while the third was arrested.
