Lebanese minister denies Hezbollah weapons at Beirut airport

Lebanon's transport minister denied on Sunday that Hezbollah was storing weapons at Beirut airport, as fears grow of all-out war between the militant group and Israel.

Ali Hamieh called a press conference at Beirut airport to deny the allegations of "absurd articles" in the media, and attacked the British Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The newspaper claimed the Shia militant group was storing missiles and rockets at the airport, where "whistleblowers" had reported the arrival of "unusually big boxes". 

Backed by Iran, Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces in support of its ally, Hamas.

"I am holding this press conference to clarify that everything that has been written in the Telegraph is false and to say that there are no weapons entering or leaving Beirut airport," Hamieh told journalists.

Hamieh invited ambassadors and journalists to inspect the airport on Monday morning in a visit "open to all".

The Lebanese air transport union condemned in a statement "simply erroneous statements and lies aimed at endangering Beirut airport and its employees, all civilians, and those who frequent it."