(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
Hizbullah terrorist Ali Hassan Saliman, who was apprehended by IDF forces, admitted during questioning that he was involved in the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and that he knew the goal was to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Saliman also admitted his involvement in an additional kidnapping attempt at an IDF post near the village of Rajar last November.
Saliman, 22, joined the Hizbullah terror organization at age 15 and underwent a lengthy training program that included military and "educational" courses. After completing Hizbullah training, he joined the anti-tank section of the "Nasser Unit", the Hizbullah unit stationed on Lebanon's border with Israel.
Saliman also participated in two Hizbullah "exercises" in Iran. At the end of 2003 and again at the end of 2004, he and dozens of other Hizbullah terrorists entered Iran via the Iranian military checkpoint at Tamrun without being required to present passports. Their instructors were Iranian soldiers.
Hizbullah recently intensified its efforts to kidnap Israeli soldiers and Saliman participated in two kidnapping attempts. In the first unsuccessful attempt, in Rajar in November of 2005, Russian Fagot anti-tank missiles were used against Israeli tanks. On July 12 Saliman participated in the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev near Zarit. Some time afterwards IDF forces apprehended Saliman and brought him to Israel for questioning.