A damaged MEA aircraft in 1982, at the height of the civil war (1975-1990). (Credit: Hampar Narguizian/L'Orient-Le Jour archives)
Will Israel soon strike Beirut International Airport?The question has been looming since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, which began last October in the wake of the Gaza war and intensified in recent days.Threats from both sides have taken a serious turn.On Monday, caretaker Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamiyeh, who is close to Hezbollah, conducted an inspection tour of the various airport buildings in response to an article in the British daily The Telegraph accusing Hezbollah of stockpiling weapons on the premises.Lebanese sources assured L’Orient-Le Jour that this allegation was “fabricated.” While other sources acknowledged that military equipment reaches Hezbollah via the airport, they considered it unlikely that arms are stored there.The possibility of such a scenario looms because this...
Will Israel soon strike Beirut International Airport?The question has been looming since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, which began last October in the wake of the Gaza war and intensified in recent days.Threats from both sides have taken a serious turn.On Monday, caretaker Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamiyeh, who is close to Hezbollah, conducted an inspection tour of the various airport buildings in response to an article in the British daily The Telegraph accusing Hezbollah of stockpiling weapons on the premises.Lebanese sources assured L’Orient-Le Jour that this allegation was “fabricated.” While other sources acknowledged that military equipment reaches Hezbollah via the airport, they considered it unlikely that arms are stored there.The possibility of such a scenario looms because...