Western spy planes on nonstop overflights of Lebanon: Report

 US and EU nations are reportedly preparing to confront Hezbollah in the event of a greater flare-up on the southern Lebanese border

News Desk

Foreign surveillance aircraft have continued to illegally operate in Lebanese airspace since the start of the Gaza-Israel war in October, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported on 21 December. 

Due to the intensity of the overflights, suspicions have arisen in Beirut that “these planes are loaded with jamming, monitoring, tracking, spying, and sensing devices that help the Israeli enemy in its war,” particularly in light of Hezbollah’s destruction of large amounts of Israeli surveillance equipment on the southern border.

“Nothing can be confirmed […] security officials are keeping secret about the load on these planes, and claim that Lebanon inspects all aircraft that land at Beirut International Airport or the Hamat Military Air Base,” it adds. 

Thirty-one foreign military planes landed in Lebanon between 14 November and 18 December, data reviewed by Al-Akhbar indicates. Most of these planes landed at Beirut International Airport and belong to NATO countries, including the US, UK, and Finland. 

The Al-Akhbar report says the planes could be turning off their signals to avoid detection. 

“When the American military plane CASA CN-235-300 landed, it issued a call GONZA to the control tower of Beirut Airport shortly before landing. Later, there were no reports of take-offs and landings.” 

Among the planes detected in Lebanese airspace several times this month is a US MQ9 espionage plane, which can also be equipped with missiles. 

“The MQ9 movement raises many questions,” the daily writes. 

Local reports from November showed that since the war in Gaza began, western military planes loaded with weapons landed at Beirut International Airport and the decommissioned airstrip in Hamat Air Base.

These included US, British, French, and Canadian aircraft, some of which reportedly came from Israel in direct violation of Lebanese law. The deliveries allegedly came under the pretext of enhancing security in western embassies in light of escalating violence on Lebanon’s southern border. 

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) claimed these deliveries were “routine” transfers of military aid. However, Al-Akhbar's sources revealed the destination of these weapons was “unclear.” 

In a 21 November report, Al-Akhbar said the deliveries may potentially serve to confront Hezbollah by disrupting its communications network in the event of an escalation on the border.

Hezbollah continues to strike Israeli bases and settlements daily in solidarity with the resistance in Gaza. In response, the Israeli air force has been indiscriminately targeting towns and villages in southern Lebanon. 

Since the Lebanese resistance began its operations on 8 October, western pressure on Beirut has continued to build. 

Representatives of western countries, namely France, have repeatedly demanded the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 on the southern border. The resolution, drafted after the 2006 war, calls for a withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from the areas south of the Litani River.  

Nonetheless, Hezbollah has rejected adhering to Resolution 1701 unless Israel itself adheres to it, as Tel Aviv also violated Resolution 1701 by continuously encroaching on Lebanese territory in the years following the 2006 war.

https://new.thecradle.co/articles/western-spy-planes-on-nonstop-overflights-of-lebanon-report