MIDDLEEAST TYCOON NEWS DESK: Amid extensive US-backed Israeli aggression against Lebanon, media hostile to Hezbollah has intensified focus on Beirut International Airport, portraying it as under Hezbollah’s control to justify potential attacks. This narrative aims to incite fear, with former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu alleging Hezbollah uses the airport for weapons storage.
On June 23, 2024, The Telegraph cited Israeli military sources claiming Hezbollah hides weapons in civilian areas, forcing Israel to react if attacked, potentially harming Lebanese civilians. In a bold breach of Lebanese sovereignty, the US embassy’s military attaché inspected the airport for Hezbollah presence and ordered Iraqi Airways’ aid to Lebanon be redirected through Jordan for inspection. Lebanese Middle East Airlines was also threatened with sanctions if it transported wounded citizens for medical care.
The embassy has also prepared an evacuation route near Lebanon’s Hamat Air Base, which was expanded in 2011 with US support, despite Lebanon’s longstanding tensions. Analysts argue that the US interest in Lebanon’s limited airports underscores its concern over Hezbollah’s regional influence.
If the US intervenes directly in the ongoing conflict, it faces a robust Hezbollah resistance, built on the legacy of its founders and committed to defending Lebanon’s sovereignty.
