Sondoss Al Asaad
US embassy moves to take control of Beirut Airport
BEIRUT - In light of the extensive US-led Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the continuous threats to target vital facilities, the anti-Hezbollah media goes in remarkably well in shedding light on Beirut International Airport, which is considered an essential outlet that Lebanon relies on economically, politically and touristically by claiming that it is under Hezbollah’s control.
Indeed, it is hostile propaganda in itself to justify any aggression on the airport. It is promoted by morally bankrupt media without the slightest human responsibility.
It seems they carry a torch to pour oil on the fire of sedition.
This fabricated myth is not new, as Benjamin Netanyahu had previously claimed from the United Nations podium that Hezbollah uses it “to store missiles and explosives.”
In a provocative report on June 23, 2024, The Telegraph quoted the Israel Occupation Force (IOF) claiming in a statement that “Hezbollah’s strategy to hide weapons and operate from civilian neighborhoods stems from its intentions to draw the IDF (IOF) to target these civilian areas in times of escalation ... If Hezbollah were to target Israeli civilians from these sites, the IDF would have no choice but to react, potentially placing Lebanese civilians in harm’s way, causing international outrage toward the IDF.”
Meanwhile, in a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty, the military attaché at the US embassy in Beirut toured the airport to ensure that there was no Hezbollah presence.
Besides, the embassy ordered that Iraqi Airways be prevented from transporting aid to Lebanon unless it was inspected in Jordan.
The Lebanese Middle East Airlines was also threatened not to transport the wounded from Lebanon to receive treatment abroad under penalty of sanctions; noting that the US embassy receives daily data on passengers to and from Beirut from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Another violation committed by the embassy was opening a private road adjacent to the Lebanese army’s Hamat Air Base under the pretext of preparing to evacuate US citizens if developments required it, knowing that the basic evacuation plan calls for using the port of Jounieh.
It is worth noting that Hamat Air Base was built in 1976 through direct efforts by President Bashir Gemayel (an ally of Israel) to be a private airport for pro-Israel areas. In 2011, the US embassy funded the base expansion, adding more large-capacity hangars and equipping it with modern radars and surveillance devices.
Some analysts claim that Lebanon’s military airports are not important to the US military because they are relatively small compared to its military bases in Syria (Al-Tanf base), Iraq (Ain Al-Assad base), Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf. However, anyone who knows the extent of the concern caused by Hezbollah realizes how keen Washington is to occupy even a few meters in any Lebanese region, especially if it is far from pro-Hezbollah’s areas.
On the morning of October 23, 1983, a yellow Mercedes truck loaded with 5 tons of highly explosive TNT blew up the Marine headquarters near Beirut airport, destroying it and killing 241 Americans, including 220 Marines. Minutes later, the French paratrooper headquarters in Ramlet al-Baida was blown up, killing 58 of them.
On February 7, 1984, the Marines were transferred from their bases at Beirut airport to the USS New Jersey, which bombed many areas in Lebanon in retaliation. The heroic operations continued however until former US President Ronald Reagan announced the final withdrawal from Lebanon on February 26, 1984.
After a few years, it became clear that Hezbollah’s first cells – newly established with modest capabilities – were behind it, specifically by Shaheed Imad Mughniyeh, Shaheed Sayyed Fouad Shukr, Shaheed Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine, Shaheed Ibrahim Aqil, and many others.
Hence, if the new US president decides to engage directly in the current war, i.e. not relying merely on their proxy “Israel”, thousands are waiting for them, among them are the successors of the aforementioned martyrs and the guardians of Sayyed Nasrallah’s resistance approach.
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