The assassination occurred on 27 September 1964, in Brazil, where Shishkhali was in exile. Ghazaleh approached Shishkhali while he was crossing a bridge between the cities Ceres and Rialma, and exchanged a few words with him before shooting him five times with a pistol. It was revenge for Shishakli's military campaign in Jabal al-Druze. The Ghazaleh clan had experienced some of the largest casualties during the assault.