 After being recalled to Libya in 1980, he announced his defection in Morocco due to his certainty that he would be purged on return.He survived at least three assassination attempts.On 8 May 1984, el-Magariaf directed commandos from the National Front for the Salvation of Libya led by Ahmed Ibrahim Ihwas in an attempt to assassinate Muammar Gaddafi, via an attack on Gaddafi's headquarters.