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Hezbollah 'definitely' does not store 'weapons' at Beirut international airport

"Hezbollah is storing huge quantities of Iranian weapons, missiles and explosives in Beirut’s main civilian airport, according to airport whistleblowers," the U.K.-based daily The Telegraph claims.

Hezbollah 'definitely' does not store 'weapons' at Beirut international airport

Hezbollah fighters pose in modified all-terrain vehicles during a military exercise near Mlita, southern Lebanon, 21 May 2023. (Credit: Jad Abou Jaoudé)

BEIRUT — Hezbollah "definitely does not store weapons or missiles at Beirut international airport," a high-ranking source at airport, who requested not to be named ahead of the release of official statements on the matter, told L'Orient Today on Sunday.

The source added that what the British daily newspaper The Telegraph reported Sunday, citing anonymous sources and whistleblowers, is a "campaign targeting the airport and is an attempt at destroying the tourism season in Lebanon." Caretaker Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh is expected to hold a press conference addressing the issue at 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

"Hezbollah is storing huge quantities of Iranian weapons, missiles and explosives in Beirut’s main civilian airport, according to airport whistleblowers," The Telegraph claimed.

"The cache allegedly includes Iranian-made Falaq unguided artillery rockets, Fateh-110 short-range missiles, road-mobile ballistic missiles and M-600 missiles with ranges of over 150 to 200 miles. Also at the airport is the AT-14 Kornet, laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), huge quantities of Burkan short-range ballistic missile and explosive RDX, a toxic white powder also known as cyclonite or hexagon," the article published Sunday by The Telegraph reads.

A whistleblower allegedly working at the airport claimed that "for years I have been watching Hezbollah operating at Beirut airport, but when they do it during a war, it turns the airport into a target."

“If they keep bringing in these goods I’m not allowed to check, I really believe I’ll die from the explosion or I’ll die from Israel bombing ‘the goods.’ It’s not just us, it’s the ordinary people, the people coming in and out, going on holiday. If the airport is bombed, Lebanon is finished," the source reportedly told The Telegraph

Caretaker Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamieh is expected to hold a press conference today at 6 p.m. at the airport. "He will address the allegations published by The Telegraph today regarding Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, refuting various lies propagated by the newspaper," a statement sent by Hezbollah to L'Orient Today said.

Since Oct. 8 Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in almost daily cross-border fire in southern Lebanon. Fears persist that a wider conflagration could erupt.

BEIRUT — Hezbollah "definitely does not store weapons or missiles at Beirut international airport," a high-ranking source at airport, who requested not to be named ahead of the release of official statements on the matter, told L'Orient Today on Sunday. The source added that what the British daily newspaper The Telegraph reported Sunday, citing anonymous sources and whistleblowers, is...