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Flights to Lebanon Set to Resume

Lebanon`s only international airport was scheduled to receive two passenger planes Thursday. The flights were to mark the first time passenger aircraft have arrived since Israel bombed Beirut`s international airport early on July 13, at the start of the most recent Mideast war. Reports indicated that a flight of the Lebanese national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), would land after flying from Amman, Jordan early in the afternoon. Less than half an hour later, a Royal Jordanian flight was expected to arrive.

MEA told reporters that the first flight back to the capital would be free of charge to passengers. It is unclear if the carrier was given permission from the Israeli military, who maintains a blockade of the country, virtually cutting Lebanon off from the outside world. Israeli missiles struck the airport, located in the southern area just outside Beirut, in July, creating extensive damage to the runways. Israel also damaged a hangar and fuel tanks in the attack.

MEA evacuated almost all its planes to Cyprus, Jordan and Syria following the Israeli offensive. Lebanese Transport Minister Mohamed Safadi said the airport could be partially reopened within the coming week but will take at least two months to be running at full capacity. Israel struck the airport to prevent terror group Hizballah, which operates freely from and at the same time collaborates with the Lebanese government, from bringing weapons into the country or shipping kidnapped Israeli soldiers out, possibly to Iran.