Is Connelly Allowed To Inspect Security at Beirut Airport?
"Al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily shed light Saturday on some aspects of US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly's visit to Beirut International Airport, particularly the Middle East Airlines Company.In its Saturday edition, the daily noted that this visit was undeclared, and that it was kept away from media for unclear reasons.In remarks to "al-Akhbar", well-informed observers unveiled that "a security delegation accompanied Connelly in her visit to the company's installations, headquarters, and operations' center, where they were briefed of information, that they are not entitled to access."The renewed US ambassadors' breach for diplomatic norms in Lebanon came in a suspicious timing. "It coincided with the incident that shook "Israel" over the last hours, i.e. the Hizbullah Ayoub drone."Despite the fact that the visit was previously scheduled, the US delegation exploited its visit and turned it from an economic to a security one.According to the daily, "the main reason for this visit is the Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ghazi Aridi, and the General Manager of the "Middle East" company, Mohammed Hout.""These two officials visited Washington 10 days ago, where they met with US Transportation Department officials, demanding the reopening of air transport relations between Lebanon and the US," it added.In a related development, "al-Akhbar" confirmed that "it soon became apparent to MEA workers and specialists that Connelly's accompanying delegation is not economical but rather of security nature.""Is it permitted that Connelly inspects the security aspects in Beirut airport? Why is Hout trying to reopen the airlines between Washington and Beirut, given that a lot of other more beneficial lines remain closed [Turkish and African lines]?" it wondered.