[1][2][3] He is best known for his indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as one of the major individuals involved in the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
On 18 August 2020, he was found guilty of the assassination and the death of 21 other individuals in the incident that occurred in February 2005.
He was found guilty on five charges including the intentional murder of Hariri with premeditation by using explosive materials.
[10][11] Three other indictees were acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence including Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra and Hassan Merhi.
[13] On 10 November 2024, reports claimed that Ayyash was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Al-Qusayr, Syria.