Anonymous Report This Comment Date: June 23, 2007 12:42PM
Elie Hobeika (1956-2002) also known as HK in reference to his favorite riffle
from Heckler & Koch, one of the most powerful and intelligent warlords of
the Lebanese civil war; feared by all and hated by many, HK has been assigned
security chief of the Lebanese Forces (Christian Militia) at the age of 23, and
after Bashir Gemayel(Leader of the LF at the time) assassination, he aced a 500
questions test prepared by the CIA to assess the leaders of the LF.
HK became Leader of the LF in 1985 only to be removed by his rivals (Samir
Geagea and Karim Pakradoni) in 1986 after turning pro-Syrian and opposing his
former allies, the Israelis.
HK is held responsible for Sabra and Chattila massacres in 1982 following the
assassination of Bashir Gemayel and he was behind many assassination attempts of
other rival warlords.
HK mastered five languages (Arabic, English, French, Hebrew,Italian) which he
learned all by himself, he was a ferocious fighter and feared nothing (he joined
the LF at the age of 14 as a foot soldier and took part in many battles).
HK was assassinated in 2002 most probably by Syrian agents after his relations
with Damascus degraded. Ten kilograms of TNT were placed in a sedan parking near
his house and a few hundred meters from a local HQ of the Syrian secret
services; the bomb was detonated at his passage thus killing him along with his
driver and bodyguards.