Halat Air Strip

Military Conversion and Post-War State Consolidation. The airstrip was built and operated by the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia. Following the 1989 Taif Agreement which ended the war, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) began extending state authority, taking control of militia assets. The airstrip was seized by the LAF and formally converted into a military airbase, effectively closing it to its previous operators and functions.

The site is an active military installation known as Hamat Air Base (sometimes referred to as Wajih al-Khatib Air Base). It is operated by the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) and is one of its most important bases. It houses several LAF squadrons, including helicopter units (such as IAR 330 Puma and Gazelle helicopters) and, more recently, the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft fleet. The base is also frequently used for training exercises by LAF Special Forces and as a receiving point for international military aid and equipment. It is strictly a military facility with no public or commercial access.

Constructed in the mid-1980s during the Lebanese Civil War, Halat Air Strip was a strategically vital, clandestine airport for the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia. It served as the main logistical artery for the Christian enclave they controlled, allowing them to bypass Beirut International Airport, which was often under the control of rival factions or Syrian forces. Its primary operations involved the importation of weapons, ammunition, and other crucial supplies. It also functioned as a private airport for the travel of LF leaders and personnel, handling aircraft ranging from executive jets to C-130 transport planes. The airstrip was a powerful symbol of the de facto statelet the LF had established during the conflict.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening Hamat Air Base for civilian or commercial use. Its current role as a critical and active military airbase for the Lebanese Air Force makes its conversion to a civilian airport highly unlikely. Discussions in Lebanon regarding a potential second international airport to alleviate pressure on Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport have historically focused on the Rene Mouawad Air Base (Kleyate) in northern Lebanon, not Hamat.