BlackEagle/BlackEagle Logistics & Procurement Branch, Data Support Section
Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search: Palestine Liberation Front
End Search
Palestine Liberation Front #CR0000922
(Also... Some alternate names are aliases, other are names for specific subgroups or
cells).
PLF
Front for the Liberation of Palestine
FLP
Source: CIA, EuroTer, Interpol, MI-6
Type: Political terrorist organization
Scope:
Active terrorist organization carrying out actions on virtually all levels throughout Israel
and the Middle East.
Affiliations:
Known links to the Worldwide Islamic Jihad [#CR0001716], Palestine Liberation
Organization [#CR0000318], Hizbullah [#CR0001132], Hamas [#CR0002211] and Al
Fatah [#CR0002091]. [Interpol] Links suspected with the Jihad Group [#CR0001804]
and the group it originally split from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -
General Command [#CR0001639] [EuroTer]. Possible links with the Democratic Front
for the Liberation of Palestine [#CR0001814]. [MI-6]
Personnel: At least 50.
Operating Since:
1975
Structure:
Military style hierarchy. Militia units of ten to twenty operatives, divided into three
companies, all falling under a single command.
Leaders:
Abu Abbas [#LL4078261], leader of the Pro-PLO [#CR0000318] faction. Abd Al Fatah
Ghanem [#LL4881894] , leader of a faction with ties to Libya.
Legitimate Connections:
None Known
Resources:
Smallarms, explosives, and military weapons. Receives logistic and military support
mainly from PLO, but also Libya and Iraq. Excellent intelligence resources. [CIA]
Suspected Criminal Activity:
July, 1978 the PLF kidnapped UNIFIL soldiers in Tyre, they were forced by Al Fatah to
release them several hours later. September, 1978, three PLF terrorists were captured
in Northern Israel. They had intended a hostage taking operation with the goal of
seeking the release of PLF prisoners held in Israel. April, 1979, four operatives landed
from the sea near Nahariyah, intending to seize Israeli hostages to be used in exchange
for terrorists being held by the Israelis. The terrorists killed a man and his daughter in
their apartment, as well as an Israeli policeman. two terrorists were killed during the
fighting and two were captured. Various unsuccessful operations during 1980 and early
1981. A squad was captured in 1984 believed to be on a hostage taking operation.
Abbas's group was also responsible for October 1985 attack on the cruise ship Achille
Lauro and the murder of US citizen Leon Klinghoffer. Abu Abbas-led faction carried out
abortive seaborne attack staged from Libya against Israel on 30 May 1990. A warrant for
Abu Abbas's arrest is outstanding in Italy. Others involved in the hijacking are wanted
elsewhere. In May of 1992 they claimed responsibility for an attempted raid on the Israeli
Red Sea resort of Eilat. They killed one before the Israeli military killed one terrorist and
wounded another. Openly supported Iraq during Gulf war.
Additional Commentary:
Terrorist group that broke away from the PFLP-GC [#CR0001639] in mid-1970s. The
group seeks to dismantle the current state of Israel, terrorize Israel by direct attacks on
it's soil and establish an independent Palestinian state in Place of Israel. The PLF was
established with Iraqi support, and it's existence as an independent group was
recognized when it obtained seats on the Palestine National Council in 1981 with it's
headquarters in Damascus. Later near the end of 1983 it split again into pro-PLO
pro-Syrian, and pro-Libyan factions. Pro-PLO faction led by Muhammad Abbas (Abu
Abbas), who became member of PLO Executive Committee in 1984 but left the
Executive Committee in 1991. The parts remaining in Damascus split again in 1984
when Abd Al Fatah Ghanem attempted a take over of the PLF offices and held Tal'at
Yaqub [#LL4271894] Secretary General of the PLF, hostage. Through Syrian
intervention, Yaqub was released and Ghanem formed his own faction with ties to Libya.
Yaqub's faction joined the Palestine National Salvation Front [#CR0001859], and is
generally aligned to Syria.
USE BACK BUTTON TO
RETURN TO MY TERRORIST PAGES