Foto:wilsoncenter.org
The British newspaper “The Telegraph”
has reported that the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah is storing significant quantities of weapons at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. Citing airport employees, the paper claims that suspicious large crates are regularly delivered via direct flights from Iran.
Airport staff raised suspicions about these “mysterious large crates,” which arrive infrequently but always during periods of heightened risk of major conflicts in the region. One source told “The Telegraph” that the number of such crates increased following the onset of the war in Gaza. Another employee noted that airport personnel are prohibited from inspecting these shipments.
“The Telegraph” published a list of the alleged weapons stored in the airport warehouses. The list includes:
• Iranian-made Falaq artillery rockets
• Short-range Fateh-110 missiles
• Ballistic missiles and M-600 missiles with a range of up to 400 km
• Russian Kornet anti-tank guided missiles
• A large quantity of short-range Burkan ballistic missiles
• Explosive substance RDXHow the journalists obtained such a detailed list is not specified. Sources expressed concern that the weapons could explode either due to an accident or as a result of an Israeli airstrike. In the event of an explosion, not only airport staff and passengers would be affected, but also local residents, as the airport is located just eight kilometers from downtown Beirut. One source emphasized:
“Beirut would be cut off from the world, not to mention the damage and casualties.”
Airport employees claim that this operation is overseen by Hezbollah security chief Wafic Safa, who frequently appears at customs and uses his connections with local officials to facilitate the unobstructed transfer of shipments without inspection.
The situation has also raised concerns among some Lebanese politicians. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament from the “Lebanese Forces” party, Ghassan Hasbani, stated that Hezbollah’s control over the airport has long been a source of worry for the country’s population, especially now when the main air gateway is becoming a potential military target in the conflict with Israel.
Lebanese Transport Minister from Hezbollah, Ali Hamieh, refuted “The Telegraph” publication and stated that the Lebanese authorities are considering legal action against the British newspaper. He also invited anyone interested to inspect the airport grounds tomorrow at 10:30 AM.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah expressed outrage over the publication, stating:
“Any strike on Beirut will be the last straw that will unleash the full might of the resistance on the enemy.”
Observers note that the timing of “The Telegraph” publication is no coincidence. Firstly, it reminds Lebanese of the Beirut port explosion in August 2020, which left horrific memories and is also associated with Hezbollah. Secondly, the information compromises Beirut International Airport as a dangerous place for civil aviation and foreign airlines.
Source: The Telegraph
