Hezbollah supporters protested near Beirut’s airport against the ban of two Iranian flights. The protests involved burning tires and displaying support for Hassan Nasrallah. The Lebanese army intervened, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced measures to assist stranded Lebanese passengers. The situation arose amidst accusations of weapon smuggling tied to Iranian flights, which the Lebanese government has denied.
On Thursday, Hezbollah supporters protested in Beirut, blocking the airport road and burning tires in response to a decision preventing two Iranian planes from landing in the city. The National News Agency (NNA) reported that young men set fires and displayed banners in support of Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, alongside images of Nasrallah and the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, as shown in footage by AFP.
The Lebanese army was deployed to the area amid confrontations between protesters and military personnel. Following the protests, Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced plans to aid stranded Lebanese passengers at Tehran Airport, seeking to operate a flight to bring them back.
Additional security measures were implemented to ensure the airport’s safety, affecting the scheduling of some flights, particularly those from Iran. Consequently, the Public Works and Transport ministry instructed Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport to relay to Mahan Air that it could not accommodate two upcoming flights from Iran.
The rescheduling of the flights coincides with a ceasefire agreement deadline from a previous conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah, raising eyebrows about possible motivations behind the decisions affecting Iranian flights. Amid the debacle, a stranded Lebanese man in Tehran called for action and urged for assistance from Hezbollah-allied authorities to facilitate the return of Lebanese nationals.
Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport representative confirmed that necessary clearance for the planned flight to Beirut was not granted, while Israeli military officials alleged Hezbollah and Iran used flights as a means to smuggle weapons, despite denials from Lebanese authorities. Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim Al Moussawi criticized these allegations and urged the Lebanese government to take action to safeguard its citizens.
Hezbollah supporters protested the ban on Iranian flights into Beirut, citing concerns for stranded Lebanese travelers. The protests coincided with a sensitive political backdrop, marking the deadline of a ceasefire agreement. While Israeli officials allege the airport’s use for weapon smuggling, Lebanese authorities have denied these claims and are focusing on operational security to protect their citizens. A call for governmental responsibility and action was voiced amidst the ongoing demonstrations.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
