In a stunning reversal of power that could redefine Lebanon’s political landscape, the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has successfully expelled Hezbollah-linked operatives from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, reclaiming the facility for the Lebanese state with direct backing from the United States.
According to Sky News Arabia, dozens of airport employees suspected of ties to Hezbollah were dismissed in recent weeks. “Dozens of airport employees suspected of affiliation with Hezbollah were terminated,” a senior Lebanese security official told Al Arabiya, describing the move as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the group’s hold over critical infrastructure.
The operation comes in response to long-standing concerns that Hezbollah, heavily supported by the Iranian regime, had turned Beirut’s airport into a logistical corridor for smuggling cash, weapons, and even gold from Tehran. In a major blow to these networks, The Wall Street Journal reported that Lebanese authorities recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 22 kilograms of gold, allegedly destined for Hezbollah’s military wing. “Lebanese authorities succeeded in foiling an attempt to smuggle a gold shipment through Beirut airport suspected of being linked to Hezbollah,” the report stated, citing Lebanese and Western officials.
#Iran News: Diplomatic Crisis Erupts Between Beirut and Tehran Over Iranian Envoy’s Defense of #Hezbollah Armshttps://t.co/ZgtG4e8iqA
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 23, 2025
In a further step, direct flights between Tehran and Beirut, previously used to move funds and operatives, have been suspended since February. According to Okaz, all flights, including those from Iran, are now subject to stringent security checks. Airport staff confirmed they are no longer instructed to exempt any flights or passengers from inspection.
The new measures include AI-powered surveillance technology, designed to detect smuggling operations and track financial flows. These systems are part of a broader U.S.-supported effort to choke off Hezbollah’s illicit funding and restore state authority over strategic nodes.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared, “For the first time in years, you can feel the difference,” adding that the fight against smuggling has achieved visible results.
#Iran News: Lebanese President Declares Progress on #Hezbollah Disarmament, Signals End to Militia Impunityhttps://t.co/SnvQSb0zuN
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 16, 2025
The symbolic and operational implications of this shift are profound. The airport, long considered a Hezbollah stronghold, has been one of the group’s key points for importing resources. With overland routes via Syria compromised after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and maritime smuggling increasingly difficult, the loss of Beirut airport access marks a critical setback for the group.
U.S. officials have expressed strong approval of the Lebanese government’s steps. “There is reason for hope,” a senior American official told Al Arabiya, noting the rapid progress in state consolidation. The official, part of the international monitoring committee for the southern Lebanon ceasefire, added: “Six or seven months ago, I didn’t believe we’d get to this point.”
The slogan “Reclaiming Lebanon,” now echoed by Salam’s technocratic cabinet, has taken a tangible form. Lebanese forces have also taken control of informal border crossings and dismantled several Hezbollah arms depots, signaling a broader offensive against the Iranian regime-backed militia’s parallel state.
Watch the second episode of this series, picturing why and how the terrorist regime in #Iran created the #Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/UztKPRe55C
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 8, 2024
Though Hezbollah still wields influence in certain parts of the country, analysts agree the expulsion from Beirut’s airport represents a historic turning point. With its finances under strain, regional alliances fractured, and supply lines disrupted, Hezbollah faces one of the most challenging phases in its existence since its founding in the 1980s.
Whether this momentum can be sustained remains to be seen—but for now, the Lebanese state has landed its first decisive blow.