| Hezbollah terrorists are not just destroying homes | | | | waiting to collect cargo to transport out of the |
| and towns in Israel. Their actions are also having an | | | | country. |
| effect on the global freight industry. As fighting | | | | Although air freight to Lebanon is affected, since the |
| continues in Lebanon the damage caused to Beirut | | | | port is still open, transportation to the country has |
| airport has prevented any commercial flights to or | | | | not stopped entirely. This is good news for |
| from the country. | | | | humanitarian relief organisations keen to send aid |
| A number of leading freight services (including | | | | supplies to the country. |
| companies from the UK) have suspended the | | | | Much of the freight needing to be transported to |
| transport of cargo to and from Beirut airport. Many | | | | Beirut is being shipped to Damietta, which is the |
| freight forwarding companies are still transporting | | | | closest safe port. It is then stored in warehouses |
| goods to Damascus. However if Syria enters the | | | | there until it is ready to be dispatched to Beirut. |
| fray in support of Hezbollah with whom it has close | | | | This means that at the moment the freight services |
| links, commercial transportation to that country might | | | | industry is managing to find ways around the |
| also be affected. | | | | problems caused by Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and |
| One of the key reasons for the cessation of flights | | | | the country's counter offensive. |
| to Beirut is the fact that the city's runway has been | | | | This is good news for both humanitarian organisations |
| damaged. However, if the violence escalates the | | | | delivering aid to Lebanon as well as to the freight |
| issue of safety may also prevent the transport of | | | | services industry. However, if Syria joins Hezbollah's |
| freight to and from the country. | | | | attack on Israel then the implications for freight |
| Indeed, only last week two truck drivers were killed | | | | transport to both Lebanon and the Middle East in |
| at the Beirut Container Terminal where they were | | | | general could be severely affected. |