Gates v. Syrian Arab Republic
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
580 F. Supp. 2d 53 (2008)
Al Qaeda in Iraq beheaded American civilians Armstrong and Hensley on video; their next of kin (plaintiffs) sued Syria, its president, a Syrian general, and Syrian Military Intelligence (defendants) under FSIA Section 1605A, alleging Syria provided material support — recruitment, training, transportation, sanctuary, and financing — to AQI despite knowing of its terrorist violence. After the defendants failed to respond, the court entered default judgment and held a hearing on liability and damages, at which the plaintiffs presented evidence of Syria's ongoing support for AQI.
Whether, under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a foreign nation may be held liable for deaths resulting from its provision of material support to a terrorist organization.