Lebanon denies rumors of warships docking at ports
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Hamieh called on all media outlets and social media users to rely on the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for verified information regarding all facilities under its authority, particularly the ports.
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Lebanese caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ali Hamieh speaks during a press conference at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 (AP)
Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh firmly denied on Thursday rumors alleging that warships had docked at Lebanese ports.
In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Hamieh clarified that these claims are false and have not occurred.
"The rumors about warships docking in ports are similar to the smear campaign that targeted Beirut Airport," Hamieh stated.
He mentioned that footage widely shared on social media, allegedly showing warships and military carriers at a Lebanese port, was not authentic.
Hamieh called on all media outlets and social media users to rely on the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for verified information regarding all facilities under its authority, particularly the ports.
He added that the Ministry is the sole and authorized source for such information, urging the public to disregard unverified reports.
"ما يتداول عن رسو بارجات حربية في موانئ لبنانية غير صحيح ولم يحصل"
— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) August 8, 2024
وزير الأشغال العامّة والنقل في حكومة تصريف الأعمال علي حمية لـ #الميادين.#لبنان #الميادين_لبنان @alihamie_lb pic.twitter.com/GxGzoKnfwR
A similar incident occurred in late June when The Telegraph published a report claiming that the Lebanese Resistance was "storing huge quantities of Iranian weapons, missiles, and explosives in Beirut’s main civilian airport."
Lebanese officials and the Air Transport Union in Lebanon (UTA) were quick to respond, stating that misinformation of this sort can pose a serious danger to the well-being of the airport and its staff, all of which are civilian.
Read more: 'Shoddy’, ‘irresponsible': Journalists on Telegraph Hezbollah piece
Addressing reporters on the matter in late June, caretaker Minister Hamieh said that "Beirut Airport has been subjected to disinformation for years," adding that instead of publishing a "ridiculous" and baseless report citing anonymous sources, the British daily "should have opted for checking in with the British Department of Transport, which conducted a field visit of the airport on January 22, 2024."
"This is the primary authority responsible for transportation matters at the airport," he stated.
Questioning the paper's credibility, Hamieh asked, "Is it conceivable that a reputable newspaper would change its sources within an hour?"
Additionally, the caretaker minister called on all media outlets and all ambassadors or their representatives to visit the airport tomorrow at 10:30 am for a tour of all airport facilities to make sure that the airport is strictly a civilian infrastructure and that no weapons are being smuggled through it.
"We have nothing to hide," he maintained.
Moreover, Hamieh informed the press, "We are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the newspaper and we will announce the details later."
