Israel admits it assassinated senior Assad official in Syria in 2008

New book says Muhammad Suleiman oversaw construction of nuclear reactor in Deir Ezzor Muhammad Suleiman was a senior aide to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (AFP) Published date: 3 September 2026 11:47 BST | Last update: 5 sec ago Israel has admitted to assassinating a senior aide to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2008, after years of official silence. In a new book by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he admits to the killing of Muhammad Suleiman. The Syrian officer was a chief military and intelligence aide who was also in charge of the construction and security of the Syrian nuclear facility in Deir Ezzor. Though a leaked document from the US National Security Agency in 2015 appeared to confirm that Israeli naval commandos carried out the assassination, Olmert's book is the first high-profile public admission on the subject. “He [Suleiman] and his guests were sitting on the balcony, and the soldiers approached under the cover of darkness to a distance of 150 meters on either side of the balcony, and confirmed his identity,” wrote Olmert in an excerpt from his book seen by the Ynet news site. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters “Even though there were quite a few people on the beach, nobody noticed them.” He said when the order was given, “three bullets were fired at Suleiman, hitting the back of his head”. “Immediately afterward, the soldiers retreated to the coast, on the way to the boat that picked them up,” wrote Olmert. Death of Syrian in police custody sparks protest and conversation about prison reform Read More » Assad's government, which was overthrown in December 2024, had long pointed the finger at Israel for the assassination. A UN report released on Tuesday confirmed that Assad's government had been overseeing construction of a nuclear reactor in Deir Ezzor. According to the report, inspectors with the UN nuclear watchdog visited several sites in Syria in August to carry out verification work. In his book, Olmert said Suleiman “had a hand in everything” in the Deir Ezzor facility. “A month before the attack, he received a new Mercedes from Assad as a token of appreciation for his contribution to building the reactor,” he wrote. The Deir Ezzor nuclear reactor was also the target of an Israeli strike in September 2007 while Olmert, who would later be imprisoned for six years on bribery charges, was in office. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.