Lebanese authorities prevented an Iranian passenger plane from landing at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday. Following the decision, protesters carrying Hezbollah flags blocked the airport road in protest.
According to Lebanon’s official news agency, demonstrators set tires on fire in response to the plane being denied landing permission. Protesters also chanted slogans in support of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2023.
Lebanese Passengers Stranded at Tehran Airport
Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper reported that dozens of Lebanese passengers were stranded at Tehran Airport after an Iran Air plane was unable to land in Beirut.
Citing a Lebanese civil aviation source, the newspaper stated, “Iranian planes were not granted landing permission at Beirut Airport, and the aircraft that was supposed to bring Lebanese passengers back has not yet departed from Tehran.” Lebanese authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
Israel’s Allegation of “Hezbollah Weapons Smuggling”
Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah were using Beirut Airport to facilitate arms funding through civilian flights.
A similar crisis occurred on January 3, when Lebanese authorities conducted a thorough search of an Iranian plane carrying a diplomatic delegation. Following the search, Hezbollah supporters staged protests around the airport.
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