Lebanon Gives Journalists Tour of Beirut Airport to Dispel Reports of Hezbollah Weapons Caches, Security Prevents Entering the Air Cargo Center

BEIRUT — Lebanese ministers on Monday gave journalists and diplomats a tour of the country’s only international airport in Beirut in an attempt to prove that the militant Hezbollah group does not store weapons there.

The tour came a day after the British Telegraph newspaper published a story, citing anonymous airport workers, claiming that Hezbollah has shipped an increased number of packages containing missiles through the airport, as months of clashes with the Israeli military on the Lebanon-Israel border have significantly escalated in recent weeks.

Caretaker Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh said the Lebanese government will take legal action against the British newspaper, accusing it of slander and fabricating information. The story was published without a byline.

“Of course we have confidence in the security agencies and are satisfied with their work,” Hamieh said, dismissing claims in the story that Hezbollah’s weapons shipments bypass security services at the busy airport.

Hezbollah and Israeli officials have upped threats against one another, saying that they will target critical military and civilian infrastructure if the conflict spirals into an all-out war.

BREAKING: A tour of Beirut airport for journalists and ambassadors arranged by Hezbollah-affiliated transport minister— said would prove that the terror group is not storing weapons on site— stopped as reporters banned from entering the main cargo area.

You know why 👍 pic.twitter.com/7PAHKRruXf

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) June 24, 2024

"LOOK, NO WEAPONS HERE"

Lebanon releases footage of warehouse in Beirut airport

We are all finally convinced… @kaisos1987 https://t.co/oAjmNCGSvV pic.twitter.com/Aq6NfLE4iE

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 24, 2024

LEBANON WEAPON STORAGE SAGA:

REPORTERS NOT ALLOWED INTO AIR-FRIGHT CENTER:

As promised, the Lebanese government conducted a tour for journalists and foreign ambassadors at Beirut Airport this morning to debunk the British Telegraph's claims that Hezbollah is storing Iranian… https://t.co/7Dw1KRirGR pic.twitter.com/WiYGkIAMCh

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 24, 2024