Japanese militant who took part in 1972 Israel airport attack dies in Beirut

Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese militant involved in the 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack, died in Beirut at the age of 78. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which had been protecting him, announced his death, stating he had been ill for a long time. Okamoto, known to the PFLP as Ahmad al-Yabani, settled in Lebanon after his release from Israeli prison, where he served 12 years for his role in the attack. The 1972 assault, carried out with the PFLP, involved Okamoto and two colleagues opening fire at the airport, resulting in 26 deaths and dozens of injuries. The PFLP described Okamoto's life as dedicated to supporting the Palestinian cause.

Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese militant who participated in a 1972 attack on Tel Aviv's airport, has died in Beirut at the age of 78. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which had been protecting him, announced his death, stating he had been ill for a long time. Okamoto served 12 years in Israeli prison for the 1972 attack, carried out by the Japanese Red Army in conjunction with the PFLP, which killed 26 people. He was released in a 1985 prisoner exchange and later granted political asylum in Lebanon, where he lived until his death. The PFLP described Okamoto as a supporter of the Palestinian cause and noted his attack was in retaliation for a 1968 Israeli commando raid. Japan had sought his extradition, but Lebanon repeatedly refused.