Beirut’s Rafik Hariri Airport Tightens Security on Flights from Iraq Amid Hezbollah Fund Transfer Concerns
Authorities at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport have ramped up security checks on flights from Iraq, aiming to prevent the transfer of funds and assets to Hezbollah, according to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat.
The enhanced screening procedures include passenger, baggage, and cargo inspections, similar to those already applied to flights arriving from Iran. A senior airport official told the newspaper that these measures are not intended to inconvenience travelers but are part of security commitments agreed with the U.S., amid heightened tensions linked to the conflict with Israel.
Heightened Monitoring Following Israeli Threats
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, security measures at Beirut Airport have been reinforced following Israeli threats against flights from Iraq and Iran, based on allegations that these routes could be used to transport weapons and funds from Tehran to Hezbollah.
These warnings led to the suspension of flights from Iraq and Iran during the war. However, operations resumed after the November 27 ceasefire, with Middle East Airlines (MEA) and Iraqi Airways now operating three to five daily flights between Baghdad and Beirut, the report said.
Due to restrictions on Iranian flights, reports suggest that alternative routes for fund transfers to Hezbollah have emerged, now passing through Iraq before reaching Lebanon.
International Oversight on Beirut Airport Security
The increased security measures at Beirut Airport are under strict international supervision, particularly from the United States, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
On Monday, a Baghdad-to-Beirut flight was canceled, and sources cited by the newspaper speculate that the decision may have been linked to strict security checks or logistical reasons.
Expert Analysis on Airport Security Measures
Security expert Khaled Hamadeh told the newspaper that such screening procedures are standard practice at airports worldwide and that Lebanon is obligated to enforce anti-money laundering measures.
"Allowing the transfer of funds from Iraq or Iran through the airport could put Lebanon at international risk," Hamadeh warned.
Past Tensions Over Inspections on Iranian Passengers
Strict inspections at Beirut Airport have led to incidents in the past. Before the ceasefire, passengers on an Iranian flight carrying Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, refused to undergo security checks, sparking a dispute at the airport, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
Hamadeh dismissed such objections, stating that security screenings are standard protocol at the airport. He emphasized that all Iraqi and Iranian passengers will be subject to inspections upon arrival in Beirut due to suspicions of carrying Iranian funds intended for Hezbollah.
Lebanese authorities maintain that these security measures are critical to ensuring the smooth and safe operation of Beirut Airport, particularly amid growing international scrutiny.
Regular Flight Operations at Beirut Airport
Middle East Airlines (MEA) is the largest carrier at Beirut Airport, operating flights to:
- Riyadh, Al Najaf (Iraq), Milan-Malpensa, Madrid, Lagos, London-Heathrow, Larnaca, Kuwait, Jeddah, Istanbul, Geneva, Frankfurt, Rome, Yerevan, Erbil (Iraq), Dubai, Düsseldorf, Doha, Dammam, Copenhagen, Paris-CDG, Cairo, Brussels, Baghdad, Abu Dhabi, Athens, Amman, and Accra.
European Airlines Serving Beirut:
- Air France – Daily flights from Paris-CDG
- Condor – Weekly flight from Düsseldorf
- Tarom – Two weekly flights from Bucharest
- Cyprus Airways – Three weekly flights from Larnaca
- Transavia France – Three weekly flights from Paris-Orly
- Turkish Airlines – 28 weekly flights from Istanbul
- Pegasus Airlines – 14 weekly flights from Istanbul and 3 weekly flights from Antalya
Middle Eastern Airlines Operating in Beirut:
- Qatar Airways – 14 weekly flights from Doha
- Kuwait Airways – Five weekly flights from Kuwait
- Emirates & Flydubai – Daily flights from Dubai
- EgyptAir – Daily flights from Cairo
- Royal Jordanian – 11 weekly flights from Amman
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi & Etihad Airways – Three and four weekly flights from Abu Dhabi, respectively
- Air Arabia – 10 weekly flights from Sharjah
With ongoing security developments, Beirut Airport continues to operate as a key aviation hub in the Middle East, balancing strict international security protocols with maintaining a steady flow of regional and global air traffic.
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