Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority has denied a landing request from Lebanon’s MEA for two flights, necessitating formal processing through the Lebanese Foreign Ministry. This resulted in the cancellation of flights and protests at Beirut’s airport, alongside claims from Israel about Iran’s role in smuggling funds for Hezbollah. Hezbollah rejected these allegations and condemned Israeli actions, calling for international intervention.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Authority has rejected a landing request from Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) for two flights to Tehran, stating that the request must be formalized through Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry per bilateral regulations. The Lebanese embassy in Tehran is preparing a formal letter for submission to Iran’s Foreign Ministry to seek authorization, although delays may occur due to a public holiday in Iran.
This disagreement has stranded hundreds of Lebanese travelers at Tehran’s airport for over four hours following the cancellation of an Iran Air flight to Beirut due to the absence of clearance for landing in Lebanon. A Beirut airport representative indicated that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport had informed Iran’s Mahan Air that two of its flights to Beirut would be denied landing rights, with rescheduling suggested for next week without further explanation.
In reaction to this aviation dispute, protests erupted near the airport in Beirut, where demonstrators blocked roads and burned tires, expressing outrage against the Lebanese government for what they deemed a breach of national sovereignty. Tensions rose further following statements from an Israeli military spokesperson, who alleged that Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah had been utilizing Beirut’s airport for smuggling funds to support military actions against Israel.
Hezbollah strongly refuted these allegations, denouncing Israel’s actions as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and accusing the international community, particularly the United States, of complicity in these violations. The group called for worldwide condemnation of Israel and urged international organizations to intervene in the matter.
The recent aviation disagreements come on the heels of a prior incident where Lebanese authorities had conducted a detailed inspection of an Iranian aircraft carrying a diplomatic delegation on January 3. This event stirred political controversy within Lebanon, highlighting the delicate nature of Lebanon’s relations with both Iran and Israel.
In summary, the conflict over landing rights between Iran and Lebanon’s MEA has resulted in significant delays and public protests, revealing underlying tensions regarding sovereignty and international relations. The situational context includes accusations from Israel against Iran and Hezbollah regarding exploitation of airport facilities for military financing, which Hezbollah denies, calling for accountability against Israeli actions. The complexities of Lebanese-Iranian interactions continue to evolve, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics.
Original Source: shafaq.com
