As well as being described as an archterrorist with strong links to Iran, Mughniyeh was believed in Israel to be a master of disguises who may have undergone several rounds of plastic surgery in order to evade capture.

In May 1996, the lieutenant to Mughniyeh told a colleague that the Islamic Jihad Organization, an offshoot of Hezbollah controlled by Mughniyeh, was prepared to carry out terrorist operations before the election that year in Israel, but had been directed not to do so by Iran.

Political scientists speculated why Hezbollah had not confirmed that Mughniyeh had died in Syria.

"Hezbollah at least for now believe that Syria has no involvement in his killing," said Talal Atrissi, a professor of political sciences at the Lebanese University. "That's why they did not refer to the Damascus bombing in their statement."

But observers and officials in Beirut speculated that Syria might have had a role in his killing as part of a possible deal with the Americans and the Israelis.