KGB REPORT (Andropov to Brezhnev). The transfer of arms to “trusted KGB intelligence agent W. HADDAD”, head of PFLP-EO: People’s Liberation Front of Palestine-External Operations [R: 16 May 1975, 1218-A-ov]. One page.

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[one page]

Special Importance

SPECIAL FILE

USSR Committee of State Security [KGB] at the USSR Council of Ministers

16 May 1975, No. 1218-A/ov

Moscow

To Comrade L.I. BREZHNEV

In accordance with the decision of the CPSU Central Committee, on 14 May the Committee for State Security gave trusted KGB intelligence agent W. Haddad, head of the external operations section of the People’s Liberation Front of Palestine, a consignment of foreign-produced arms and ammunition (53 submachine guns, 50 hand guns including 10 fitted with silencers, 34,000 rounds of ammunition).

The covert delivery of arms was carried out in the neutral waters of the Gulf of Aden at night, with no direct contact, and with full observance of secrecy by an intelligence-gathering vessel of the Soviet Navy.

Haddad is the only foreigner who knows that the arms were supplied by us.

CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE SECURITY COMMITTEE

[Signed] ANDROPOV

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NOTES

In 1968 Wadie Haddad (1927-1978) and George Habash formed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the second largest group (after Arafat’s Al-Fatah) in the PLO.

Operating from a base in Jordan, Haddad organised a succession of aircraft hijackings. He died in East Berlin.

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GENERAL

1. Notes and additions by translator and editor are bracketed, thus [ ];
2. Text added by hand is indicated in italic script;
3. when a handwritten phrase, figure or word has been inserted in a previously typed document it is indicated by underlined italic script.

Translation, George Sklyar; Revised and annotated, JC

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