Thus, Hezbollah is free to conduct its smuggling business to and from Lebanon: fuel, drugs, other types of goods, and, of course, the movement of military equipment and weapons via the Iranian corridor into Lebanon. Supported by the IRGC – Quds Force – Unit 190. Furthermore, control of border crossings allows Hezbollah to monitor persons entering and exiting Lebanon via unit 900, Hezbollah’s security force.
The numerous airstrikes on Syrian territory against military equipment and weaponry delivered to Hezbollah via the Iranian corridor, while necessary, are driving Iran and Hezbollah to tighten their grip on the relevant alternatives.
Beirut’s international airport has long provided an alternative to the land corridor via Syria for smuggling military equipment and weapons for Hezbollah. All of this is done with full civilian cover (for example, read our June 2022 special report on the subject).
Hezbollah’s major objective at the moment is to take control of the international airport in Beirut. This objective is being personally pursued by Hashem Safi al-Din, the head of the Hezbollah Executive Council, and Haj Fadi (Muhammad Jaafar Qusayr), the leader of Unit 4400 (Hezbollah’s smuggling unit).
Hezbollah is currently working intensively to seize the airport through prominent people in the government, security services, and, it appears, the private business sector.
Hezbollah is using these figures as a proxy to achieve its goal.
For example, in the Lebanese government, Hezbollah Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ali Hamieh attempted to commence an initiative to construct a new terminal at the airport. Hezbollah was driving the move, and the terminal’s development would have been entirely under Hezbollah’s supervision. READ MORE
