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Japanese Militant Kozo Okamoto, Lod Attack Perp, Dies in Beirut

7/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Kozo Okamoto, a 78-year-old Japanese militant also known as Ahmad Al Yabani, died in Beirut.
He served 13 years in an Israeli prison, was freed in a 1985 prisoner swap, and later obtained Lebanese asylum.
Japan requested Interpol issue an arrest warrant for Okamoto.
He called himself an Arab resistance fighter during a Lebanese forgery trial and had participated in the Lod Airport shooting that killed 26 and injured 76.

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Story summary

Kozo Okamoto, a 78-year-old Japanese militant also known as Ahmad Al Yabani, died in Beirut.
He served 13 years in an Israeli prison, was freed in a 1985 prisoner swap, and later obtained Lebanese asylum.
Japan requested Interpol issue an arrest warrant for Okamoto.
He called himself an Arab resistance fighter during a Lebanese forgery trial and had participated in the Lod Airport shooting that killed 26 and injured 76.