Iran Press/West Asia: Lebanese Public Works and Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh in the presence of several foreign ambassadors and journalists conducted an inspection tour of various buildings at Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA) in response to a Telegraph article alleging the presence of Hezbollah weapons at the site.
Diplomatic personnel from several countries, including the European Union, Germany, India, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Jordan, attended the inspection tour on Monday morning around 10:30 am.
The Customs Department, storage areas, and hangar of Middle East Airlines were among the sections that were inspected by diplomatic missions at Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA).
Following the tour, which included a press conference with multiple speakers, the Egyptian ambassador to Beirut, Alaa Moussa, stated that the tour was “a message of support for Lebanon” amid daily clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
“We want to say that what we seek is de-escalation. Tensions must be reduced, and a cease-fire in Gaza must be achieved for calm to return to Lebanon,” the diplomat added.
Public Works and Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh in the press conference reminded caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati's order to explore legal options against the 'Telegraph' said that "Israeli planes fly over RHIA daily, causing equipment jamming, but we adhere to all standards and ensure airport security."
RHIA management has been prepared for any eventuality long before this article, since Oct. 7, He added.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Fadi al-Hassan, also declared that the tour “showed that RHIA complies with international standards and that all efforts are made to maintain its security.”
205
