Kozo Okamoto, the sole surviving member of the Japanese Red Army commando that carried out the May 30, 1972, terrorist attack at Tel Aviv’s airport, has died in Beirut at the age of 78, according to recent reporting. The attack killed 26 people and injured dozens of others after three Japanese attackers opened fire with weapons hidden in their luggage upon arriving on a flight from Europe.
The 1972 Airport Massacre and Its Origins
The 1972 assault on the airport was executed in coordination with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), as reported by the Independent. Two of Okamoto’s accomplices died during the operation. Okamoto himself sustained injuries and was captured by Israeli security forces at the scene.
Did you know? Following his capture, Okamoto was sentenced to life imprisonment in Israel before being released in 1985 through a prisoner exchange between Israel and Palestinian guerrilla groups.
Asylum in Lebanon and Decades Underground
Following his release in the 1985 prisoner exchange, Okamoto traveled to Lebanon, where he secured political asylum and remained in hiding until his death. According to media reports, he maintained a low public profile over the decades but held significant status within extremist circles, operating under the alias Ahmad al-Yabani (Ahmad the Japanese) inside the PFLP and viewing himself as an Arab resistance fighter.
The Japanese government repeatedly pressed for Okamoto’s extradition over the years, but Lebanese authorities consistently refused the requests. Concurrently, the PFLP issued a statement asserting that the 1972 airport attack served as retaliation for a 1968 Israeli commando raid on the international airport in Beirut.
International Network of the Japanese Red Army
Formed in 1971, the Japanese Red Army operated as a radical leftist organization that forged operational ties with Palestinian militants. The group claimed responsibility for several high-profile international incidents during that decade, including the 1974 seizure of the French embassy in The Hague and the 1975 occupation of the United States consulate in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the PFLP—a faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)—gained notoriety for orchestrating the simultaneous hijacking of four Western passenger planes in 1970, alongside the takeover of an Air France flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Kozo Okamoto?
Kozo Okamoto was the lone surviving member of a three-person Japanese Red Army commando team responsible for the 1972 mass shooting at Tel Aviv’s airport.
How did Okamoto avoid serving a full life sentence?
According to historical records, Okamoto was freed from Israeli custody in 1985 as part of a prisoner swap between Israel and Palestinian guerrilla groups.
Where did Okamoto live after his release from prison?
Okamoto lived in Lebanon under political asylum, residing underground and later openly until his death at age 78.
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