Israel accuses Hezbollah of smuggling cash through Beirut airport

The Israeli forces accused Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah of using civilian flights to Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut to transport money to be used to equip Hezbollah to carry out attacks in Israel. The efforts to block such shipments using ceasefire control mechanisms aside, efforts at such efforts at smuggling most likely succeeded, said Israeli army official Avichay Adraee.

The Israeli forces reaffirmed efforts to cut Hezbollah’s weapons supply and maintain ceasefire agreements to provide protection to Israeli civilians in response.

The claims were denied by Iranian authorities, adding that such reports are a result of a media war effort to hinder Lebanon’s reconstruction process.

The Wall Street Journal said that Israel complained to the US-led ceasefire panel that Iran’s envoys and others are ferrying large sums of money to Hezbollah via the airport in Beirut. Israel threatened to strike at Beirut’s international airport in case such suspected efforts at smuggling continue, it said.

The airport in Beirut is strictly controlled to hinder such efforts at smuggling, said a Lebanese security official. The official acknowledged that it would be difficult to carry large sums of money, yet gems and diamonds of great value can be easily carried.