LEBANON: TERRORIST USE OF BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00434R000300240066-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2010
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: June 21, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

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SECRET
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.20505
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
Lebanon: Terrorist Use of Beirut International Airport*
Beirut International Airport has been used by terrorists for
many years as a transit point for travel, or as a site for
terrorist activities or attacks. The available evidence
indicates the airport has been used by a number of groups for
various purposes.
-- Radical Lebanese Shias use the airport for travel to and
from Europe, and several hijackings have begun, ended,
or passed through the airport.
-- The majority of airport employees are Shia, and evidence
indicates customs clerks, porters, and taxi cab drivers
provide an "in place" kidnaping network for Shia groups
hoping to abduct either foreign or Lebanese nationals
going to or from the airport.
-- Both pro and anti-Arafat Palestinian groups move
personnel in and out of Lebanon via the airport. Until
the 1982, Palestinian terrorists made'extensive use of
the airport to move materiel, as well as Palestinian and
non-Palestinian personnel to and from Europe. Since the
Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Palestinian use of the
airport has declined but not ended.
*This memorandum was prepared by the Terrorism Analysis Branch,
Terrorism/Narcotics Analysis Division, Office of Global Issues and the Levant
Branch, Arab-Israeli Division, Office of Near East and South Asian Analysis,
at the request of Ambassador Robert Oakley, Director, Office for Counter-
Terrorism and Emergency Planning, Department of State. Information as of 21
June 1985 was used in its preparation. Questions and comments are welcome and
should be directed to Chief, Terrorism/Narcotics Analysis Division
Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources
or Methods Involved
75X1
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-- The Amal-affiliated Musa Sadr Brigade probably sends
some of its operatives to Europe using the airport on
missions to attack Libyan interests, and some of its
hijackings have involved the airport.
-- The Lebanese. Armed Revolutionary Faction almost
certainly has sent some of its operatives and materiel
to Europe using the airport.
-- Armenian terrorists have flown from Beirut to Europe
where they conducted attacks on Turkish diplomatic
facilities.
Airline hijackings involving the Beirut Airport have been a
particular problem. Our records indicate 36 hijackings--almost
15 percent of all such incidents outside the United States since
1970--have begun, ended, or passed through the airport. The
persistent use of Beirut Airport for at least 15 years indicates
a chronic security problem exists. Various reports suggest that
airport workers sympathetic to one or another terrorist group
provide assistance to terrorists hoping to pass through the
airport covertly. The collapse of Lebanese government authority
in the last three years has only accentuated the longstanding
problem.
At present, security at Beirut International Airport is
practically nonexistent. The airport is, surrounded by
impoverished Shia Muslim neighborhoods in which pro-Iranian
extremists operate virtually at will. The radical Hizballah
organization is strong in most of the areas adjacent to the
airport and, according to several sources, views the airport road
as a place where foreigners and Lebanese Christians can easily be
kidnaped.
The airport itself is under no central authority.
Militiamen of various affiliations roam the passenger terminal,
occasionally searching or robbing travelers. Firefights between
rival militiamen have erupted in the airport several times, and
airport employees have gone on strike repeatedly during the past
two years to protest the dangerous working conditions.
In addition to chaotic security conditions that promote
terrorism, the airport often becomes a victim in the Lebanese
civil war. Shelling and mortar rounds from the surrounding war
zone periodically impact within the airport perimeter, and the
airport has been closed for much of the past year because of
damaged runways.
This entire report is
classified SECRET.
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Selected Terrorist Activity Involving
Beirut International Airport
9 June 1985 American University of Beirut official Thomas
Sutherland was kidnaped by several carloads of
gunmen after arriving at the airport.
23 May 1985 French journalist and researcher were kidnaped
while heading into Beirut from the airport.
Fall 1984-1985 Fatah loyalists began re-entering Lebanon via
airport. Airport personnel reportedly
assisted Palestinian operatives entering and
leaving Lebanon.
18 November 1984 Lebanese Shia terrorist carrying explosives in
luggage arrested in Zurich after arriving from
Beirut on Middle East'Airlines flight.
Terrorist was linked to seven Lebanese
arrested in Rome on 24 November for conspiring
to bomb the US Embassy.
25 August 1984
25 July 1983
February 1982
February 1980
6 May 1977
13 November 1975
29 June 1975
Large suitcase bomb defused at airport.
Armenian terrorists flew from Beirut to Lisbon
where they took part in seizure of Turkish
Embassy.
European dissidents traveled to Beirut for
training in Palestinian camps. Numerous
instances of such travel have been reported.
Numerous members of Latin American insurgent
groups spotted flying to Beirut for meetings
and possible training with Palestinian groups.
Norwegian arrested when explosives found in
his luggage. Terrorist was en route to
Frankfurt.
Two Saiqa terrorists held five personnel
hostage at Pan Am hangar, demanding jeeps and
trucks.
A US businessmen kidnaped from cab en route
from airport to downtown Beirut. Released
four days later without money or passports.
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28 April 1973 Palestinians placed bomb in airport lavatory
to force release of three terrorists arrested
the day before for hijacking attempt at the
airport.
5 October 1970 Forty-three Palestinian guerrillas held
airport official hostage until guarantees
received that they would not be forced to
leave Lebanon.
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Hijackings Involving Beirut International Airport
TWA flight from Athens to Rome diverted to
Beirut after two Beirut-Algiers round-trips.
Hizballah elements took control of operation
in Beirut and as of 21 June continued to hold
the remaining 40 passengers and crew hostage.
A Palestinian protesting the hijacking of a
Jordanian flight the day before seized a plane
on a Beirut-Cyprus flight after it landed in
Cyprus.
11 June 1985 Some six "Suicide Imam al-Sadr" hijackers
stormed a Jordanian airliner at airport and
diverted it to Cyprus, Italy, and back to
Beirut before releasing the passengers and
blowing up the plane.
1 April 1985 A lone gunman commandeers a Middle East
Airlines flight from Beirut to Jidda. The
plane continued to Jidda where the hijacker
was persuaded to surrender.
23 February 1985 A Lebanese national, protesting the high cost
of living, seized a plane on the ground in
Beirut, flew to Larnaca, Cyprus and back to
Beirut where he came under the protection of
Walid Jumblatt. One person is killed and
seven wounded in the incident.
7 February 1985 Group of Musa Sadr Shias briefly held a
Cypriot airliner at airport. Demanded Cyprus
release two colleagues held for earlier
hijacking.
4 December 1984 The four hijackers of a Kuwaiti airliner from
Dubai to Tehran began their mission from the
Beirut airport. Two Americans killed in
Tehran by the hijackers.
31 July 1984 Radical Shias diverted Air France flight from
Frankfurt to Beirut before heading to Tehran.
21 July 1984 An Abu Dhabi-Beirut flight was hijacked by a
Lebanese Shiite who demanded a press
conference to speak against Israeli occupation
of southern Lebanon.
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24 February 1982
7 December 1981
24 July 1980
10 March 1980
31 January 1980
28 January 1980
18 January 1980
7 September 1979
16 January 1979
6 May 1978
8 July 1977
Musa Sadr terrorists commandeered a Kuwaiti
Airliner plane in Beirut.
Libyan flight from Zurich to Tripoli hijacked
by Amal members demanding information
concerning Musa Sadr. Plane forced to fly to
Beirut, Athens, Rome and back to Beirut.
Two Jordanians, attempting to collect a debt
from a Kuwaiti merchant, hijacked a Kuwait
Airways Beirut to Kuwait flight to Bahrain,
then on to Tehran.
A man with a toy pistol attempted to hijack an
Amman to.Beirut flight to focus attention on
the Imam Musa Sadr's disappearance in Libya in
1978.
Three Lebanese Shias armed with pistols and
grenades arrested trying to board flight to
Paris.
Lone hijacker diverted Middle East Airlines
flight leaving Baghdad to Beirut. Arrested by
Lebanese authorities after he read statement
about disappearance of Imam Musa Sadr.
Shia gunman demanding the return of Imam Musa
Sadr attempted to divert a Middle East
Airlines flight to Tehran. During refueling
in Beirut he surrendered to Lebanese
authorities.
An Alitalia Tehran to Rome flight was hijacked
by three Lebanese Shia students demanding
information on Imam Musa Sadr.
Six Lebanese Shias demanding the release of
Imam Musa Sadr hijacked a Middle East Airlines
plane in Beirut and diverted it to Jordan and
Cyprus.
A Swiss woman planning to hijack a Zurich to
Cairo flight was arrested after receiving
explosives in the transit lounge. She had
planned to demand the release of Palestinian
terrorists.
Six Palestinians demanding the release of 300
prisoners in Arab jails hijacked a British
Midlands plane from Beirut to Kuwait.
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5 June 1977 Two Arabs hijacked a Middle East Airlines
flight on route from Beirut to Baghdad. Plane
landed in Kuwait where Kuwaiti commandos
overpowered the hijackers.
19 March 1977 Two Turks diverted Turkish airliner on a
domestic flight to Beirut and surrendered to
authorities.
4 October 1975 Four Palestinian terrorists killed three and
wounded 14 while trying to hijack a plane to
Cairo.
15 March 1974 Six Arabs, reportedly belonging to the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine, were
arrested. attempting to smuggle weapons and
explosives aboard a KLM flight in Beirut.
3 March 1974 Two men claiming membership in the Palestine
Liberation Army and demanding the release of
terrorists held in Athens hijacked a British
Airways flight in Beirut and forced it to land-
in Amsterdam.
27 April 1973 Two Palestinian and one Lebanese terrorists
about to board Air France flight to Nice
arrested. Luggage found to contain explosives
and timing devices.
29 October 1972 After departing Beirut, a Lufthansa flight was
hijacked to Munich, Nicosia, Zagreb and
Tripoli by two Palestinians who successfully
demanded the release of the remaining members
of the terrorist group that carried out the
Munich massacre.
22 August 1972 A Beirut-Cairo flight was hijacked to Libya by
Palestinian seeking political asylum.
4 October 1971 Two Fatah members unsuccessfully attempted to
hijack a Beirut to Amman flight.
16 September 1971 An attempted hijacking of a Beirut to Amman
flight by a Fatah member was prevented by
Lebanese sky marshalls.
8 September 1971 A Fatah lieutenant was given political asylum
in Libya after hijacking a Beirut to Amman
flight.
10 September 1970 Three Arabs attempting to hijack a Beirut to
Cairo flight were overpowered by security
officers.`
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9 September 1970
22 July 1970
22 June 1970
9 January 1970
A Bombay to London flight was diverted to
Beirut and then to Jordan by three Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine members
demanding the release from prison of other
members'.
A Beirut to Athens flight was hijacked by six
members of the Palestine Popular Struggle
Front who demanded the release of comrades in
Greek jails.
An Albanian-born American hijacked a Beirut-
Rome-New York flight to Cairo to protest
American imperialism in Vietnam.
A lone gunman diverted a Paris to Rome flight
to Beirut to protest American assistance to
Israeli aggression.
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