By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – As the region seemed to prepare for an all-out war between Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israel, numerous countries want their citizens to leave Lebanon, but perhaps from the same airport where the group has allegedly stored weapons.
Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper reported that Hezbollah, viewed as an Iran-backed Islamic terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies, is using Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut to store weapons.
Among the weapons are reportedly ballistic missiles, unguided artillery rockets, and laser-guided anti-tank missiles.
Airport workers told the newspaper that “mysterious large boxes” routinely arrive on flights from Iran.
The whistleblowers also claimed that a highly explosive and toxic white powder known as RDX is being stored at the airport.
Wafiq Safa, a top Hezbollah commander, is reportedly a frequent visitor to the airport and has close ties with customs officials.
It wasn’t clear how this news could impact possible evacuations.
WARNING CITIZENS
The Canadian embassy in Beirut warned its citizens to “leave Lebanon while commercial options remain available” and to avoid all travel to the country.
Other advisories, including Ireland, echoed the warning, calling its citizens to leave the country.
Additionally, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Spain, Sweden, and the United States have also urged their citizens to leave or are mulling to evacuate them. Other countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Russia.
Comments by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant did little to convince citizens of these nations to stay longer. He threatened last week to “take Lebanon back to the Stone Age,” reflecting his previous comments about mounting tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also made threats to Israel, warning that if such an invasion were to occur, the group would “fight without limits, rules, or restraint.”
Israel’s last invasion of Lebanon in 2006, lasting 34 days, saw the evacuation of thousands of foreign citizens from Lebanon, with the United States and European states evacuating citizens to Cyprus.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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