Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide
Da Silva: Even the Jewish people do not want this war; it is revenge by a government against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state
Brazilian President Lula da Silva: What we are seeing is not a war between two armies. [What we have is a] completely professional army that is killing women and children in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention
Hamas: We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces blew up Noura Al-Kaabi Hospital, designated for kidney dialysis patients, in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets a car on the Ayta al-Shaab-Debel road in southern Lebanon
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The remaining airlines that have not yet complied with the ban are urged to take this into serious consideration to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The YAF, after successfully imposing a partial ban on air traffic at Lydd Airport, are now working to impose a full ban on air traffic at the aforementioned airport in the coming period
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: YAF's UAV Unit carried out three military operations targeting three vital Israeli sites in the occupied Palestinian areas of Yafa, Isdud, and Umm al-Rashrash, using three drones

Lebanon denies Telegraph claims, invites officials for airport tour

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 23 Jun 2024 19:00
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Following an unfounded report that Hezbollah receives and stores weapons at the airport of Beirut, the Lebanese Air Transport holds The Telegraph responsible for the safety of the civilian infrastructure.

Listen
  • x
  • Middle East Airlines jet grounded at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP)
    Middle East Airlines jet grounded at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP)

The Air Transport Union in Lebanon (UTA) denied in a statement The Telegraph's report in which it claimed that "Hezbollah stores missiles and explosives at Lebanon’s main airport," saying that these claims were made without any proof offered.

The UTA called The Telegraph's unfounded claims "mere illusions and lies aimed at endangering Beirut Airport and its civilian workers, as well as travelers to and from it, all of whom are civilians."

Moreover, the Air Transport Union held the media outlet, as well as "those who report on it and spread its falsehoods" responsible for the safety of those who work at Beirut Airport in all its facilities, "including the passenger terminal, departure and arrival, the apron, maintenance, and civil air cargo."

Additionally, in its statement, it called on all Lebanese, Arab, and foreign media outlets to come to Beirut Airport "with their camera crews and verify for themselves, otherwise, we consider what is being promoted by suspicious media outlets as incitement to kill us."

The Telegraph report 'ridiculous'

On his part, Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, proclaimed, in a press conference, 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.

Related News

Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla sets sail from Sicily protesting blockade

Footage of Gaza aid massacre refutes GHF, IOF claims of no casualties

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."

Timing of Telegraph piece 'not innocent'

In a similar vein, Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Information, Zaid Makary, accused The Telegraph's article, in a post on X, of contradicting the principles and ethics of journalism and called on all media outlets not only to denounce the article but also to expose the goals behind its publication under today's circumstances.

طالعتنا صحيفة "التلغراف" البريطانية بمقال يفتقر إلى الصدقية تحت عنوان: "حزب الله يخزن صواريخ ومتفجرات في مطار لبنان الرئيسي، وفقاً لمبلغين".
من باب الحرص على أمن البلد وعلى سلامة المواطنين اللبنانيين والقاطنين فيه والوافدين اليه، وانطلاقاً من أن المقال ينافي مبادئ الصحافة…

— Ziad T. Makary (@ZiadMakary) June 23, 2024

The goals behind this article are "not innocent", he stressed.

Furthermore, he reiterated Minister Hamieh's invitation for a tour at the airport to verify first-hand the falsity of The Telegraph's allegations.

Read more: Mufti Qabalan: Half million missiles to be anticipated in all-out war

  • Lebanon
  • Air Transport Association - Lebanon
  • Beirut Airport
  • The Telegraph
  • Israel
  • Hezbollah
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS