Hezbollah bombers convicted

THE HAGUE: A Un-backed tribunal has found two Hezbollah members guilty on appeal for the 2005 death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, saying both were involved in the bombing that killed him.

Appeals judges at The Netherlands-based court said trial judges “erred” in 2020 by acquitting the two men after finding that there was a lack of evidence.

Set up in 2009 to try those responsible for the huge explosion in downtown Beirut that killed Hariri and 21 others, the court convicted Salim Ayyash, a member of the Lebanese Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah. But they acquitted Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Oneissi and Assad Sabra.

Appeals judges granted an appeal by prosecutors, who asked that the acquittals be overturned for Merhi and Oneissi. “The appeals chamber has unanimously decided to reverse the acquittals of misters Merhi and Oneissi,” judge Ivana Hrdlickova said.