Lebanon: Lebanon launches project to reopen Rene Mouawad Airport in Akkar.

SHOTLIST: AKKAR, LEBANON (JUNE 6, 2026) 1. EXTERIOR AND TOWER OF RENE MOUAWAD AIRPORT IN AKKAR REGION (TWO SHOTS) 2. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 3. VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER CARRYING LEBANESE DELEGATION LANDING AT FACILITY, OFFICIALS WALKING 3. VARIOUS OF POLITICIANS AND RELIGIOUS FIGURES ATTENDING REOPENING CEREMONY 4. NAWAF SALAM, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER, SPEAKING AT OPENING CEREMONY (Arabic) 5. FAYEZ RASAMNY, LEBANESE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT, SPEAKING AT OPENING CEREMONY (Arabic) 6. MICHEL MOAWAD, LEBANESE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic) 7. HELICOPTER TAKING OFF 8. HELICOPTERS IN HANGAR (TWO SHOTS)AKKAR, LEBANON - JUNE 6: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam launched a project on Saturday, June 6, to rehabilitate and reopen the Rene Mouawad Airport in the country's northern Akkar region. Salam and Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny arrived at the facility, widely known as Qlayaat Airport, aboard the first aircraft to land on its runway for the official inauguration ceremony. Speaking to officials and local dignitaries, Salam stated that the initiative represents a firm political commitment to ending decades of economic neglect of the Akkar region. The prime minister emphasized that an operational northern facility would generate vital local jobs and stimulate regional trade. He clarified, however, that the site is intended to complement—rather than replace—Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport. Salam added that restoring the airport aligns closely with the principles of the 1989 Taif Agreement, which mandates state sovereignty across all territories and requires all weapons nationwide to be exclusively under government control. Located near the Syrian border, the 1930s-era airfield initially served as a military base and briefly handled domestic civilian flights before halting all commercial operations in 1990.