BEIRUT — In an interview with the Sputnik news agency, where he mainly discussed reconstruction following the Israeli war in Lebanon, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny said that Russia offered to assist Lebanon. 

Commenting on a meeting with the Russian Ambassador in Beirut, Alexander Rudakov, Rasamny told Sputnik Radio, "We had an introductory session with the Russian ambassador, who offered assistance to Lebanon and extended an invitation for us to visit Russia to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries."

In the interview, Rasamny explained that efforts were underway with the World Bank to assess the damage caused by the recent Israeli war on Lebanon, noting "that the cost of damages has reached up to $14 billion."

Rasamny emphasized that "the process of removing the rubble left by the recent war has begun in areas where the ministry can reach and where the Israeli army is not present," stressing that "work is ongoing with the help of ministries, funds, and the World Bank to develop an action plan for the reconstruction of what was destroyed."

The World Bank finalized its definitive report around 10 days ago on the damages and losses sustained by Lebanon due to the war between Israel and Hezbollah from Oct. 8, 2023, until the truce on Nov. 27, 2024. It estimated the total damage cost at $6.8 billion in regions affected by Israeli bombings, with economic losses estimated at $7.2 billion for the entire country. It also estimated the recovery and reconstruction cost at $11 billion "in the short and medium term."

Qlayat Airport

Earlier on Friday, the minister, who repeatedly expressed his desire to rehabilitate the Rene Moawad airport in Qlayat (Akkar), held a meeting with the site's operating committee.

"As you know, we promised to put the airport back into operation and we will work to achieve this goal because of its economic and development benefits," he said, adding that he plans to visit the Akkar region soon.

The committee's chairman, Hamed Zakaria, stressed that "the reopening of the airport is part of the development of disadvantaged regions in the north of the country. It responds to a national, economic, and development need while creating thousands of jobs and stimulating investment in the most deprived areas of the north."

The issue of the airport returned to the forefront in recent days following Israeli threats against Beirut airport, the only civilian airport still operating in Lebanon. This issue is primarily being pushed by parties opposed to Hezbollah, while Beirut airport is located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the party.