PFLP confirms death of former Japanese Red Army member in Lebanon

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has announced the death of Kozo Okamoto, a former member of the Japanese Red Army, in Lebanon. The militant group, which has a documented history of collaboration with the Japanese Red Army, confirmed that Okamoto died in the country where he had long resided as an asylum seeker.

The announcement was reported by NHK News Japan on 24 July 2026. While the PFLP verified the death, specific details regarding the cause of death or the exact date it occurred were not provided in the available reporting.

Okamoto was internationally wanted on suspicion of murder and other charges following a shooting incident at an Israeli airport in 1972. The attack at Lod Airport, now Ben Gurion International Airport, marked a significant escalation in the activities of the Japanese Red Army, a far-left militant group active during the late 20th century.

Lebanon has historically served as a country of asylum for several members of the Japanese Red Army. Okamoto’s presence in the nation allowed him to evade arrest for decades, remaining at large while international warrants for his apprehension remained active.

The confirmation of Okamoto’s death closes a long-running chapter in transnational militant history. His case had previously drawn attention to the complexities of asylum and international law enforcement cooperation involving non-state actors and stateless militant organisations.