Hezbollah supporters blocked roads and protested the ban on two Iranian planes landing at Beirut Airport, leading to clashes with soldiers. The Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced plans to assist stranded passengers from Tehran and implemented security measures. Israeli military sources accused Hezbollah of using airport flights for illicit activities, a charge denied by Hezbollah and local authorities.
On Thursday, Hezbollah supporters staged a protest by blocking the road to Beirut’s airport and igniting tires in response to a ban that prevented two Iranian planes from landing in the Lebanese capital. The National News Agency of Lebanon reported that protesters raised banners in support of Hezbollah’s former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, whose death in an Israeli strike occurred in September, alongside images of Iran’s deceased Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani.
Reports indicated that the Lebanese army was deployed to control the situation, where video footage showed clashes between the angry protesters and soldiers. Concurrently, the Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced efforts to facilitate a flight that would transport Lebanese passengers who were stranded at Tehran Airport, while enforcing additional security measures to ensure the airport’s safety.
Officials at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport communicated that the Public Works and Transport ministry instructed them to inform Iranian carrier Mahan Air of the flight ban affecting two scheduled flights to Beirut. One of these was planned for Thursday, while the other was set for Friday, and these have since been rescheduled without explanation. The timing of this ban aligns suspectingly with the February 18 deadline for implementing a ceasefire agreement that concluded a period of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
In related developments, an individual stranded in Tehran recorded a message appealing for assistance in securing safe passage back to Lebanon, declaring their resolve as they awaited departure. Additionally, Saeed Chalandri, CEO of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport, stated that necessary permissions from the destination nations were not secured for previously planned flights.
Israeli military representatives have accused Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah of using civilian flights for illicit activities, including weapon smuggling. Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have refuted these charges while increasing surveillance measures at the airport. Notably, a recent incident involving the inspection of an Iranian plane carrying a diplomatic delegation drew strong reactions from Hezbollah and its supporters, highlighting concerns regarding Israeli influence over Lebanese airspace.
The protest by Hezbollah supporters against the banning of Iranian flights underscores ongoing tensions surrounding regional security and air travel regulations. The actions at Beirut Airport and the inflammatory exchanges between various parties, including accusations from Israel regarding weapons smuggling, reflect the complexity of Lebanese-Israeli relations. Additionally, the calls for the safe return of Lebanese citizens stranded abroad illustrate the humanitarian implications of such political maneuvers.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
