Lebanese citizens wondered whether today, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, would witness the unofficial opening of Lebanon's first regional airport. Or would the opening be disrupted since its motivations go beyond transport needs, and conceal political, security and military considerations, as some say? Indeed, as some suspected, it has been postponed at the last minute.
All eyes were on Beirut International Airport today while they waited for an answer. The Lebanese also turned their attention to the northern part of the Akkar region, near the Lebanese border with Syria, at the site of the local and military Qlaiaat airport, home to old runways and other facilities. The airport is officially called Rene Mouawad Airport after the late Lebanese president, who was elected at one of the airport’s lounges on Nov. 5, 1989, and was assassinated in Beirut 17 days later.
