BEIRUT: Lebanon’s minister for transport has denied that Hezbollah was storing arms at Beirut airport, as fears grow of all-out war between Israel and the group. Ali Hamieh called a news conference to dismiss the allegations of “absurd articles” in the press, and strongly criticized the British daily The Telegraph.
The newspaper claimed Hezbollah is storing missiles and rockets at the airport, where “whistleblowers” reported about the arrival of “unusually big boxes.”
Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli troops in support of its ally, Hamas. The Palestinian movement has also been at war with Israel since October 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel.
Hamieh said that he is holding this news conference to clarify that everything that has been written in The Telegraph is completely false and to say that there are no arms entering or leaving Beirut airport. He invited diplomats and journalists to inspect the airport on Monday morning in a visit “open to everyone”.
Israel has for years alleged Hezbollah of keeping precision rockets and missiles in different installations across Lebanon, including on a location near Beirut airport, however, Hezbollah denies these allegations.
Over eight months of exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have left 480 people dead in Lebanon, AFP reported. Israeli officials said around 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the country’s north.
Cross-border exchanges and tension have escalated over the last two weeks following an Israeli air strike killed a top Hezbollah commander.
