Hezbollah shifts to sea routes for weapon smuggling amid air transport restrictions

A new report has revealed that Hezbollah is now utilizing maritime routes to smuggle weapons from Iran, circumventing Syrian territory in response to increasing air transport restrictions.

This shift in strategy highlights the group's efforts to adapt to its changing logistical environment while continuing its illicit operations, Caliber.Az reports via Arab media.

The Quds Force, a special military unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has reportedly developed a quick maritime route for weapons shipments to Lebanon. This operation involves Units 190 and 700 of the Quds Force, which are responsible for overseeing the shipments. Hezbollah's control over Beirut’s seaport, facilitated by a network of intermediaries, further supports the group’s smuggling activities, allowing it to bypass international monitoring.

The operation is managed by Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s head of coordination and liaison, who oversees the logistics of the weapons transfers. Safa, a key figure in the group, was targeted in an Israeli assassination attempt in October 2024, underlining his significance to Hezbollah’s operations.

The shift to sea-based smuggling follows the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which led to a loss of control over key land and air supply routes. With the collapse of Assad's government and heightened scrutiny of air transport, Hezbollah has turned to maritime channels to transport weapons directly to Lebanon or via intermediary countries. This new approach marks a significant change in Hezbollah’s operational methods, driven by both strategic and logistical needs.

The Lebanese authorities have been urged to take immediate action to prevent Hezbollah from using the Port of Beirut for illicit activities. The militia’s control over the port poses a serious threat to Lebanon’s national security and economic stability. It also jeopardizes foreign investment, which is crucial for Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts following the devastating Beirut explosion in August 2020.

Hezbollah's increasing control of the Port of Beirut, aided by collaborators within Lebanon’s customs and port inspection systems, enables the group to operate with relative impunity. According to a Western security source, Hezbollah's network at the port allows the smuggling of weapons, equipment, and money without any inspections or oversight, which continues to undermine Lebanon’s ability to secure its vital infrastructure.

This continued use of the port for illicit purposes could potentially lead to further security and economic risks for Lebanon, and the international community has been warned of the consequences if the Lebanese state fails to act. The source also cautioned that Hezbollah’s actions at the port could lead to another disaster similar to the 2020 explosion, unless immediate measures are taken to curb the group's activities.

By Vafa Guliyeva