Lebanon: 1. Who currently controls the Beirut Airport?
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN4214 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: 1. Who currently controls the Beirut Airport?, 1 February 1990, LBN4214 , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad574.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1. The international airport is situated in southwest Beirut, in territory under Muslim control. [ "Christians in Lebanon Blockaded by Moslems", Globe and Mail, 22 March 1989.] The Amal militia was briefly in partial control of the region surrounding the airport until the Syrian Army stepped in to prevent the Amal battle against Palestinian militias in the camps in the Beirut suburbs from spilling over. According to an Arab-Canadian well acquainted with the situation in Lebanon, the Syrian Army is still in effective control of the region surrounding the Beirut Airport to prevent battles from local militias (e.g. Amal-Palestinian) from disrupting the operation of the Airport. [ Malek Khouri, 9 February 1990.] The government of President Hrawi is responsible for internal security for the facility, which is carried out by the Lebanese Security Forces or government troops.
The international airport in Beirut has been alternately opened and closed during most of the civil war. Brief closures of the airport have taken place as a result of fighting between rival militias and for repairs necessitated by heavy shelling which occurred during these battles. The international airport was closed on 11 March 1989 because of fighting in the area; [ "Christians in Lebanon Blockaded by Moslems", Globe and Mail, 22 March 1989.] the facility reopened in the last week of September 1989.
According to one source, internal control of the airport facilities has traditionally rested with the Lebanese Security Forces (LSF). [ The following information on the control of the airport is from the Malek Khouri.] The Lebanese Security Forces (LSF) don't play an important military role; they tend to be apolitical, and the various factions have an understanding that it is in the best interests of all to keep the airport open using the Lebanese Security Forces for internal security functions. The LSF tends to cooperate with whichever militia is in control of the territory surrounding the airport, which currently is the Syrian Army. Except for a brief period in the early 1980s when the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were in control of the region, Muslims - the Amal group in particular - have retained control. Militias have occupied the airport at various times, but they usually withdraw, leaving the actual running of the airport to the Lebanese Security Forces.
The information on the current control of the airport could not be corroborated by written sources.
