Fox News: Iran's Use of Passenger Flights to Deliver Weapons to Hezbollah

The American network Fox News has reported on Iran's actions in transferring weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon through passenger planes in recent times. On Monday evening, September 4, citing 'Western intelligence sources,' Fox News added that the shipments from Iran to Lebanon included parts for missile assembly by Hezbollah. According to this report, Iran has been using its regular passenger planes from the 'Fars Air Qeshm' company to transport these shipments to Lebanon, in violation of passenger flight regulations. The mentioned sources told Fox News that in one case, a Boeing 747 passenger plane from the Iranian airline arrived at Damascus International Airport on July 9, and after a stop, flew to Beirut Airport. The report indicates that another flight, which raised suspicions among intelligence sources, occurred less than four weeks after the July 9 flight; on August 2, a direct Tehran-Beirut flight landed two hours earlier than scheduled at the Lebanese capital's airport; intelligence sources assessed that this Iranian flight had taken an unusual route over northern Syria. 'Fars Air Qeshm' began operations in 2003 with private investment, starting with fewer than 20 planes, and has an office in Tehran. The company ceased operations in 2013 due to mismanagement but reports suggest it likely resumed operations in the spring of this year. The Fox News report and Israeli media did not mention the potential difference between 'Fars Air Qeshm' and 'Qeshm Air,' which was one of the companies in the holding group 'Souri Net' owned by Babak Zanjani, a wealthy Iranian imprisoned. However, according to Fox News, three members of the Revolutionary Guards are officials of 'Fars Air Qeshm.' In reports from Iranian news sources up to four years ago, Hashemollah Taherian was mentioned as the CEO of this company. A Middle Eastern intelligence source cited in this report stated that Iran is struggling to find new ways to deliver weapons shipments to its allies in the region and is testing the West's ability to track these flights. Although the name and country of the 'Middle Eastern intelligence source' were not mentioned in this report, it is likely that it refers to an Israeli source; a country whose Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, stated on Monday at a senior management meeting in Jerusalem that Israel is closely monitoring Iran in the region and sees its hand open in countering 'Iranian affiliates' in Syria and Iraq and 'anywhere else.' Avigdor Lieberman and several Israeli and American officials have stated in the past year that Iran has established missile production and assembly workshops in Lebanon, Syria, and in areas controlled by Houthi forces in Yemen. According to Ynet, General Yoel Strik, commander of the Northern Command of the Israel Defense Forces, stated on Monday at a senior management conference in Jerusalem that the next war for Israel in its northern sector will be 'the last war.' Iran, Hezbollah, or the Lebanese government have not reacted to the Fox News report. Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated last year that 'bread, water, missiles, and money for Hezbollah all come from Iran.'