Lebanese Army Clashes With Hezbollah Supporters Over Blocked Iranian Flight
Lebanese security forces fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse Hezbollah supporters protesting near Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport after Lebanon blocked an Iranian flight earlier in the week. The flight was denied entry following Israeli allegations that Iran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle funds to Hezbollah, a claim Tehran has rejected.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah condemned the use of force against protesters, calling on the Lebanese army to hold those responsible accountable. “The Lebanese army and government should have held immediate meetings to prevent the Israeli enemy from imposing its dictates on the airport and from continuing its occupation of Lebanese territory,” he said in a statement.
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The flight restrictions have also led to tensions between Lebanon and Iran. Tehran, in response, barred Lebanese planes from repatriating stranded Lebanese nationals on Friday. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi spoke with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, on Saturday, and both expressed a willingness to engage in “constructive talks” to resolve the issue.
Lebanon’s aviation authorities had announced a temporary rescheduling of certain flights, including those from Iran, as additional security measures were put in place. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization confirmed that flights by Iran’s Mahan Air and Iran Air to Beirut were canceled.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Israel of disrupting international air travel and violating international law, alleging that Israel had threatened a civilian plane carrying Lebanese passengers from Tehran. The situation has further strained relations in the region as Hezbollah and Iran view the flight restrictions as an extension of Israeli pressure on Lebanon.
