According to Iranian media, Lebanese authorities have announced the suspension of flights to Beirut until February 18. This decision escalated tensions after an Iranian aircraft carrying Shiite visitors was prevented from landing at Beirut Airport. In response, Lebanese officials blocked the landing of two Lebanese aircraft in Iran’s capital, Tehran.
The Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated that two planes were dispatched on Thursday night to evacuate stranded Lebanese citizens in Tehran. However, Iran rejected the request to land the two aircraft belonging to Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines. Iranian authorities insisted that any such requests should be made through Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to Lebanon’s public holiday on Friday, coordination efforts are being handled by the Lebanese ambassador.
The tensions arose after Lebanon notified Iran’s Mahan Air that two scheduled flights from Tehran to Beirut would not be permitted. A Beirut Airport official confirmed that these flights had been “postponed to this week” but did not disclose the reason for the delay.
These developments followed allegations by the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, who claimed that Hezbollah and the Quds Force were using Beirut International Airport to transport weapons via civilian flights. However, both Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have repeatedly denied these accusations.
Amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, security forces have reportedly increased monitoring and inspection activities at the airport to ensure its safety.
© AeroHaber.com / Mevlüt Zor
Aviation News and Defense Industry news published on our website cannot be used without proper attribution.
