- 08
- Jan.
- 2024
The cyberattack at Beirut's Rafic Hariri Airport on Sunday afternoon caused major disturbance, both in terms of security and on social media, with internet users speculating about the reasons and consequences. But the essential question to ask at this moment is: is anyone really in control?
At around 5 PM on Sunday, the flight information screens at Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport were hacked, displaying a message challenging Hezbollah's control over the airport and warning against dragging Lebanon into a war for which Hezbollah would bear sole responsibility.
According to an anonymous passenger interviewed by This Is Beirut, on Sunday evening, the check-in screens were blank and the baggage belts out of service. This led to the baggage being manually handled, which caused a departure delay of approximately 45 minutes. The same passenger mentioned that half of the departure security scanners were not functioning, and security personnel compensated by conducting extensive searches.
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) released a statement on Sunday, indicating that the cyberattack affecting the departure and arrival screens at the airport caused a failure in the Baggage Handling System (BHS). "The ISF inspection unit at the airport implemented the contingency plan, thus maintaining normal air traffic operations," the press release stated.
On Monday morning, there were few people at the departure area. The check-in counter screens were off, and the baggage belts weren't working, according to Elizabeth Boulos, a passenger scheduled for a 5 AM flight. "However, the Security counters were fulfilling their roles as usual," she stated.
Negligence
Speaking to This Is Beirut, Elias Hankach, a deputy of the Kataeb party, mentioned that hacking incidents can happen anywhere, but the problem lies in the accumulation of violations and negligence. Waddah Sadek, another deputy, also affirmed to This Is Beirut that a cyberattack can occur anywhere, but when the institution's management is reliable, the damages are minimal. "The system should be robust, with multiple security levels. As far as the airport is concerned, the absence of qualified individuals means we cannot ascertain whether the hackers were amateurs or professionals," Sadek stated.
According to Hankach, "This has been a long-standing problem at the airport. Many deputies have highlighted this indifference at all levels. We know there is arms trafficking and many management issues at the airport, now exacerbated by hacking. Clearly, these issues disturb passengers. It is important to conduct a thorough investigation to achieve concrete results," he continued.
No Data Yet
In a press conference on Monday morning, caretaker Minister of Transport and Public Works Ali Hamieh announced that security teams and experts were still present at the airport to investigate, and that this had not affected flight scheduling. He stated that 3,000 people had left Lebanon in the past few hours. The extent of the damages had not yet been determined. "We do not know if the breach was internal or not, and security services are continuing their investigation," the minister declared.
"The issue of cybersecurity concerns all countries in the world and has nothing to do with administrative negligence," Hamieh added.
Additionally, Elias Hankach stressed to This Is Beirut that it is time to consider decentralization and the establishment of another airport. "Our airport reflects the image of our country. Moreover, if any incident occurs, we are trapped."
Security and Recruitment
"We can no longer ignore anything related to security. The situation is dangerous, and it is essential to quickly establish an investigation commission, identify those responsible and hold them accountable. This must be done promptly," Hankach warned, stating that responsibility lies with the security services and the civil aviation directorate and emphasizing the issue of sovereignty.
Similarly, Waddah Sadek, who has been advocating for airport security for several months, stated that what happened at the airport on Sunday "is a wake-up call." He told This Is Beirut that recruitment at the port and airport is a very sensitive issue. "Even if the recruitment policy is based on quotas (political or sectarian), it is important for the chosen individuals to be competent. Negligence at the port, in the government and the judiciary led to the port explosion that devastated the capital. Similarly, at the airport, the Public Function Council did not approve appointments, and the European Union raised security concerns," he continued, concluding, "We are exposed because employees are affiliated with political parties and were appointed to their positions based on political affiliation rather than skill."
One thing is certain, any institution can be subjected to a cyberattack at any time. However, the Beirut airport has been facing several problems for months. First, it is worth recalling the lack of qualified staff—especially air traffic controllers—and the lack of maintenance work, as evidenced by the recent floods. Furthermore, the laxity of security services and administrative staff raises the question of whether the security of air transport, passengers and the airport building itself is truly under control.
At around 5 PM on Sunday, the flight information screens at Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport were hacked, displaying a message challenging Hezbollah's control over the airport and warning against dragging Lebanon into a war for which Hezbollah would bear sole responsibility.
According to an anonymous passenger interviewed by This Is Beirut, on Sunday evening, the check-in screens were blank and the baggage belts out of service. This led to the baggage being manually handled, which caused a departure delay of approximately 45 minutes. The same passenger mentioned that half of the departure security scanners were not functioning, and security personnel compensated by conducting extensive searches.
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) released a statement on Sunday, indicating that the cyberattack affecting the departure and arrival screens at the airport caused a failure in the Baggage Handling System (BHS). "The ISF inspection unit at the airport implemented the contingency plan, thus maintaining normal air traffic operations," the press release stated.
On Monday morning, there were few people at the departure area. The check-in counter screens were off, and the baggage belts weren't working, according to Elizabeth Boulos, a passenger scheduled for a 5 AM flight. "However, the Security counters were fulfilling their roles as usual," she stated.
Negligence
Speaking to This Is Beirut, Elias Hankach, a deputy of the Kataeb party, mentioned that hacking incidents can happen anywhere, but the problem lies in the accumulation of violations and negligence. Waddah Sadek, another deputy, also affirmed to This Is Beirut that a cyberattack can occur anywhere, but when the institution's management is reliable, the damages are minimal. "The system should be robust, with multiple security levels. As far as the airport is concerned, the absence of qualified individuals means we cannot ascertain whether the hackers were amateurs or professionals," Sadek stated.
According to Hankach, "This has been a long-standing problem at the airport. Many deputies have highlighted this indifference at all levels. We know there is arms trafficking and many management issues at the airport, now exacerbated by hacking. Clearly, these issues disturb passengers. It is important to conduct a thorough investigation to achieve concrete results," he continued.
No Data Yet
In a press conference on Monday morning, caretaker Minister of Transport and Public Works Ali Hamieh announced that security teams and experts were still present at the airport to investigate, and that this had not affected flight scheduling. He stated that 3,000 people had left Lebanon in the past few hours. The extent of the damages had not yet been determined. "We do not know if the breach was internal or not, and security services are continuing their investigation," the minister declared.
"The issue of cybersecurity concerns all countries in the world and has nothing to do with administrative negligence," Hamieh added.
Additionally, Elias Hankach stressed to This Is Beirut that it is time to consider decentralization and the establishment of another airport. "Our airport reflects the image of our country. Moreover, if any incident occurs, we are trapped."
Security and Recruitment
"We can no longer ignore anything related to security. The situation is dangerous, and it is essential to quickly establish an investigation commission, identify those responsible and hold them accountable. This must be done promptly," Hankach warned, stating that responsibility lies with the security services and the civil aviation directorate and emphasizing the issue of sovereignty.
Similarly, Waddah Sadek, who has been advocating for airport security for several months, stated that what happened at the airport on Sunday "is a wake-up call." He told This Is Beirut that recruitment at the port and airport is a very sensitive issue. "Even if the recruitment policy is based on quotas (political or sectarian), it is important for the chosen individuals to be competent. Negligence at the port, in the government and the judiciary led to the port explosion that devastated the capital. Similarly, at the airport, the Public Function Council did not approve appointments, and the European Union raised security concerns," he continued, concluding, "We are exposed because employees are affiliated with political parties and were appointed to their positions based on political affiliation rather than skill."
One thing is certain, any institution can be subjected to a cyberattack at any time. However, the Beirut airport has been facing several problems for months. First, it is worth recalling the lack of qualified staff—especially air traffic controllers—and the lack of maintenance work, as evidenced by the recent floods. Furthermore, the laxity of security services and administrative staff raises the question of whether the security of air transport, passengers and the airport building itself is truly under control.
Alissar Boulos
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