Lebanon's Beirut Airport denies allegations of Hezbollah weapons storage

Lebanon's Beirut airport management has vehemently denied accusations that it is being used as a hub for storing Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah.

The denial comes in response to whistleblowers' claims of increasing weapons supplies arriving on direct flights from Iran, raising fears of potential military targeting and public safety risks, The Telegraph reports.

Despite concerns voiced by airport staff and intelligence sources, Lebanese authorities dismiss these assertions as baseless, emphasizing their commitment to airport security and inviting scrutiny to dispel what they label as deceptive allegations.

Whistleblowers at the airport told The Telegraph they were concerned about increasing weapons supplies on direct flights from Iran.

They claimed that they had observed “unusually big boxes” arriving and the increased presence of high level Hezbollah commanders.

Hezbollah has previously been accused of using the civilian airport for weapons storage, but the whistleblowers claimed it has escalated since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel intensified in October.

Hezbollah leaders have previously come under Western sanctions for smuggling through the airport.

Despite sanctions, staff at the airport claim Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s second in command and the head of its security apparatus, has become a notoriously conspicuous figure at the airport.

Ghassan Hasbani, the former deputy prime minister and an MP for the Lebanese Forces party, said Hezbollah’s control of the airport has long been a concern for Lebanon and more so now if it increasingly becomes a potential military target in the conflict with Israel.

He called for action to assess risks at the airport for fear of a repeat of the tragic port disaster of 2020. “It’s very difficult to know who can take action,” he said. “The last time the government tried to take action in 2008, there was a violent reaction by Hezbollah.