The publication of the British newspaper The Telegraph, alleging that Hezbollah is storing weapons, missiles, and explosives at Beirut airport, has raised concerns about the possibility of a large-scale Israeli war on Lebanon. Despite Lebanese authorities denying these claims, the implications are significant and raise questions about the truth behind the allegations.
Lebanese authorities recently opened the cargo warehouses at Beirut International Airport in front of diplomats and journalists to refute the claims made by The Telegraph. They reiterated their denial that Hezbollah is storing weapons that arrived from Iran inside the airport. Diplomats and journalists toured the warehouses belonging to the ground services companies operating at the airport to verify the situation.
In response to The Telegraph’s report, the head of the Air Transport Association in Lebanon, Ali Mohsen, dismissed the allegations as baseless and aimed at endangering the airport and its workers. He emphasized that all workers at Beirut Airport are civilians and called out the newspaper for spreading falsehoods without providing any evidence to support their claims.
Director General of Civil Aviation, Fadi Al-Hassan, reassured the public that all aircraft arriving at the airport are subject to the same customs procedures, and anyone can inspect the cargo of every aircraft, including those arriving from Iran. The Lebanese ministers of Public Works and Transport, and Tourism also defended the airport’s integrity and denounced the report as part of a media and psychological war against Lebanon.
Despite the controversy surrounding the allegations, Lebanon continues to see movement at Beirut Airport unaffected, with dozens of flights arriving daily. The Lebanese government remains vigilant against misinformation and propaganda and encourages the media to verify their sources before spreading false information. The country’s tourism sector has faced challenges due to geopolitical conflicts, but efforts are being made to promote and protect Lebanon’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.