Naharnet Newsdesk - Hizbullah Using Beirut Airport to Smuggle Weapons, Report

			Welcome
English

Lebanon

Hizbullah Using Beirut Airport to Smuggle Weapons, Report

A report by a European intelligence service in London said Hizbullah continues to use Beirut airport to smuggle weapons and equipment.
The report, carried by the Kuwaiti daily Assiyassah on Friday, said that Hizbullah also continues to smuggle arms via positions under its control along the coastline stretching from Ouzai in Beirut to most of the southern Lebanese seashore.

The report said that Hizbullah had purchased "arms and ammunition as well as electronic monitoring gear for day and night use from companies in western and eastern Europe."

It said the procedure was done through arms dealers as well as Arab, European and Lebanese go-betweens by imaginary companies in Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Hungary.

The deals were either directly financed by Hizbullah or via Iranian missions, the report added.

Assiyassah quoted Lebanese circles as saying that small- and medium-size jets owned by several arms dealers and middlemen, including some from Gulf states, land at Rafik Hariri International Airport to unload supplies and military gear into civilian trucks and from there to Hizbullah strongholds in Beirut's southern suburbs.

They said airport authorities help cover-up these smuggling operations, last of which was Dec. 2.

The daily quoted the report as saying that arms smuggling also takes place via medium-size boats, several of which owned by rich Shiites living in Africa, Europe and some Gulf countries.

The arms shipment is unloaded overnight at a number of maritime gaps stretching along the coastal strip from Ouzai into the southernmost tip, passing through Jiyyeh, the report added.

It said arms smuggling multiplied six fold since the May events, adding that Hizbullah has since then installed more than 10 surveillance cameras across Beirut airport.

A British official also told Assiyassah that Hizbullah has set up at least six ground-to-air rocket launch pads in mountain slopes along east Lebanon's Western Bekaa Valley.

The official pointed that the Israelis had informed their European allies and NATO about the launch pads.

Beirut, 26 Dec 08, 14:04


Your Comments


You Make the News

Cast Your Comments on this Article
View & Recommend Readers' Comments

Other Headlines

Khalife: Ethiopian Plane 'Exploded' after Take-off, 5 More Victims Identified

Separate St. Maroun Celebrations in Beirut and Brad, Sfeir Says Maronite Church Keen on Coexistence

Spanish King Inspects U.N. Troops in South Lebanon

Jumblat Expresses Regret at 'Offensive Words' against Syrian People, Leadership

Hariri Convinced with Syrian Clarifications on Assad's Remarks

Struger: The Situation is Calm, All Sides Cooperating with UNIFIL

Murr Kicks of Talks with U.S. Officials

Army Arrests Majzoub's Uncle

Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats

Saudi Government Urges International Response to Israeli Threats Against Lebanon, Syria

U.S. Congressman Involved in Deployment of U.S. Marines in Beirut Dies

Phalange Party: Assad's Remarks 'a Second Message' after Abu Moussa's

Jumblat: Leave the Issue of Feb. 14 Rally Participation to Last Minute

Sfeir in Lent Message: Maronite Presence is Based on Covenant, We Ask for No One's Guarantees

Quarrel at Manara Fishermen Port: Mashnouq Denies Being Beaten, Aridi Declines to Comment

Recovered Black Box Could Tell Story of Ethiopian Plane Crash

Assad to Berri: Syria will Support Lebanon if Israel Attacks

Black Box Retrieved 14 Days after Ethiopian Plane Crash

Filipina House Worker Murders Employer's Sister with Kitchen Knife

Rifi in Damascus as March 14 Adapts to New Phase

Assad to Berri: We Support Lebanon and Its Stability

Aoun: Lebanese Refugees in Israel is a Pressing Issue, Not All of Them are Spies

Survey: Mixed View of Hizbullah in Muslim Countries

Western Diplomat Rules Out Israeli War on Lebanon

Mustaqbal Doubts Authenticity of Remarks Attributed to Assad, Hariri Calls Assad

Aridi: Black Boxes Located under the Ethiopian Plane's Tail

European Official: Lebanon is Safe from Israeli Attacks during Next 3 Months

Sfeir Sends Jumblat Message

Qassem Rules Out War but Says Hizbullah Should be Ready

Jumblat Concerned over New Israeli War, Describes Situation as Madness

Hizbullah Cadres on Alert

U.S. Concern over Alleged Arms Smuggling, Repetition of 2006 Scenario

Suleiman Consulting with Officials on Reviving National Dialogue

International Review of UNIFIL Structure Amid Denial to Downsize it

Gilad: Israel's Anti-Missile System to Remain on Lebanon's Front

Jumblat Snaps Back at Lieberman: We Are with Syrian People, Leadership Above All Else

Sfeir: Possibilities of War Exist as Long as Hizbullah Wants to Play State Role

Cassese: Hariri Case Highly Complex

Suleiman: Lebanese Democratic System Among the Best in the World

Interior Ministry, USAID Sign MOU on Technical Support for Municipal Elections

Wahab Accuses Arslan of Murder Attempt, Tells Him Gone is Era of Dinosaurs

Army, Lebanese Forces at Loggerheads Over Alleged Torture of Minor

Geagea: March 14 will Carry On until Cedar Revolution Goals are Achieved

Libya Expects Suleiman to Participate in Arab Summit Despite Shiite Ire

Moussa: Fragile Mideast Situation Could Reflect on Lebanon

Agreement to Stop News Leaks on Dar al-Fatwa

Assad: Civil War in Lebanon Could Start in Days unless They Change the Whole System

Names of Lebanese Passengers Released from Plane Crash


Other Categories

Editorials
SpecialReports
Middle East
The World
Interview
Away From Politics
Lebanon Business
World Business
Culture
Lebanon Sports
World Sports
Technology
Health
Fringe


Comments

Please wait while we load the comments

Click to Comment
Recommend Readers' Comments to Promote Their Views