Sources within Beirut's main airport revealed to the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph" that Hezbollah is storing vast amounts of Iranian weapons, missiles, and explosives at the airport. According to the newspaper's sources, the stockpile includes unguided artillery rockets "Falaq," short-range "Fateh-110" missiles, road-mobile ballistic missiles, and "M-600" missiles with a range of 150 to 200 miles. Additionally, laser-guided anti-tank missiles "AT-14 Kornet" and large quantities of short-range "Borkan" missiles, as well as "RDX" explosives—a toxic white powder also known as "Cyclonite" or "Hexogen"—are being stored.
This information raises concerns that Rafik Hariri Airport, located just four miles from downtown, could become a primary military target.
**Testimony of an Airport Worker**
One airport worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "This is extremely dangerous. The mysterious large boxes arriving on direct flights from Iran indicate a deteriorating situation. When these boxes started coming to the airport, we felt scared because we knew something strange was happening." The worker warned that any attack on the airport or an explosion there could cause significant damage, comparable to the blast that devastated the Port of Beirut and severely damaged the downtown area in 2020. He added, "Beirut will be isolated from the world, not to mention the number of casualties and damages," expressing his belief that it was only a matter of time before a disaster occurred at the airport as well.
Hezbollah has previously faced accusations of using the civilian airport to store weapons, but sources claim that such operations have intensified since the conflict began in October.
**Boxes from Iran**
In November, "unusually large boxes" arrived on a direct flight from Iran. One worker noted, "This doesn't happen often, but it occurred just when everyone in Lebanon was discussing the possibility of war." Another airport worker remarked, "For years, I have seen Hezbollah operate at Beirut Airport, but when they do this during wartime, the airport becomes a target. If they continue to bring in these materials that I am not allowed to examine, I truly believe I will die from an explosion or from Israel bombing these materials. It’s not just about us; it's about ordinary people, travelers, and those going on vacations. If the airport is bombed, Lebanon will be finished."
**Concealment of Weapons**
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces said: "Hezbollah's strategy of concealing weapons and operating from civilian neighborhoods is intended to lure the Israeli Defense Forces to target these civilian areas during escalations."
A security source at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) told the "Daily Telegraph": "We have been aware of this for years, but we are unable to do anything without legal international action. We are handcuffed in what we really want to do, which is to shut down the airport and remove all weapons and explosives."
For years, Israel has carried out attacks on airports in Damascus and Aleppo in Syria, where Iran transports weapons from production facilities to its allies in the region, including Hezbollah. In November, Damascus Airport was forced to close following strikes that redirected all flights.
