Hezbollah has shifted its focus to Beirut Port as its primary means of smuggling weaponry, a security source told Hadath on Tuesday.
Previously, Hezbollah had significant control over Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Aiport. However, Lebanese authorities sought to reduce this.
Al Hadath added that, in addition to losing monopoly over airspace, Hezbollah also lost control of land supply routes following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December.
The source confirmed to Al Hadath that the commanders of Units 190 and 700 of the Al-Quds Force - the special operations arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - are overseeing the maritime smuggling operations, either directly to Lebanon or through intermediary countries.
According to the report, Hezbollah operates unhindered in Beirut Port thanks to networks of collaborators in the customs apparatus and port control mechanisms, managed by the terror group's security chief, Wafiq Safa.
Safa is allegedly seeking to facilitate the smuggling of equipment, weapons, and money through the port without any inspection or oversight.
The security source told Al Hadath that Hezbollah's use of Beirut Port - Lebanon's most important port - "endangers Lebanese interests and threatens foreign investments supporting Lebanon's development and reconstruction."
Beirut Port explosion
The source also said that Hezbollah's hijacking of the port could impede the hub's return to normal functioning following its explosion in 2020.
The August 4 2020 explosion of Beirut Port was the largest non-nuclear blast in modern history, and occurred after an estimated 2750 tons of unsafely stored ammonium nitrate exploded.
There were claims that Hezbollah was connected to the explosion due to unverified reports that the group was storing weapons at the site.
The source alluded to this, telling Al Hadath that the Lebanese government should take urgent action in light of Hezbollah's violations and plans for the Beirut port, which could repeat the August 2020 disaster.