Hezbollah official Ghaleb Abu Zeinab criticized Lebanon’s government for its response to the airport crisis and emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with Iran. Protests erupted after the temporary ban on Iranian flights led to public unrest. The Lebanese government is working to facilitate the return of stranded passengers while managing tensions with both Iran and Israel.
A prominent figure within Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Ghaleb Abu Zeinab, criticized the government’s recent response to a crisis at Beirut’s airport. He emphasized that fostering positive relations with Iran is crucial for Lebanon’s interests. This statement followed public unrest triggered by the Lebanese government’s temporary ban on Iranian planes, which affected an Iranian flight carrying Lebanese passengers. Abu Zeinab argued that Lebanon should strive for balanced ties not only with Iran but also with the United States, asserting that the Lebanese authority should not yield to U.S. pressure.
Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced a rescheduling of flights from Iran, effective until February 18, citing the implementation of additional security measures. This decision incited protests where Lebanese citizens blocked roads leading to Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, expressing their discontent over the suspension of flights from Iran. Amidst this unrest, Lebanese authorities aimed to address the situation by arranging flights to repatriate Lebanese passengers stranded in Iran. Following the Iranian flight blockage, Middle East Airlines dispatched two flights to help bring these passengers back home, although Iran denied landing rights to the Lebanese aircraft.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Joe Raggi, confirmed efforts to resolve the issue with Iran through diplomatic channels. Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, stated that Iran is willing to facilitate flights between both countries, provided that Lebanon allows Iranian flights to operate without obstruction. Amani also noted that the Lebanese government had requested assistance for evacuating stranded passengers using another aircraft.
Tensions escalated due to Israel’s threats against Iranian aircraft, as the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned these actions. Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran, condemned Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and detriment to Lebanon’s sovereignty. Adding to this friction, Lebanon’s Transport Ministry had previously barred an Iranian aircraft from entering its airspace following Israel’s assertion that force could be employed if the flight proceeded to land.
The situation at Beirut Airport has highlighted the delicate balance Lebanon must maintain in its foreign relations, specifically with Iran and the United States. Hezbollah’s position underscores the importance of Iran for Lebanon amid rising tensions influenced by Israeli threats. As negotiations continue to repatriate Lebanese citizens stranded in Iran, the Lebanese government faces increasing pressure from both its populace and external geopolitical forces.
Original Source: www.presstv.ir
