German citizens arrive to Beirut's international airport as they evacuate Lebanon on Oct. 4, 2024. (Credit: Fadel Itani/AFP)
Iran has expressed readiness to hold "constructive discussions" with Lebanon on resuming Tehran-Beirut flights, following a ban on two Iranian planes landing, which has sparked anger among Hezbollah supporters.
The Iranian foreign minister and his Lebanese counterpart spoke by phone about "ways to resolve the issue of civilian flights between the two countries" and affirmed their "willingness to engage in constructive and good-faith discussions," according to a statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel successfully pressured the Lebanese government to halt Iranian flights, alleging they transported funds to Hezbollah. A flight was stopped last Thursday after Israel alleged it might be carrying money. An informed source confirmed to L'Orient Today that flights between Iran and Lebanon have been suspended in both directions until Feb. 18.
In response, Iran banned Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of its stranded citizens on Friday, retaliating for Beirut's decision to bar at least one Mahan Air plane from landing at Beirut international airport. Tehran stated that no Lebanese planes would be allowed to land until its own flights were accepted in Beirut.
Hezbollah supporters blocked the Beirut airport road and burned tires on Thursday to protest the decision barring two Iranian planes from landing in the Lebanese capital, state media and an airport official said. "Young men set tires on fire in front of the airport entrance, raising banners supporting Hezbollah's former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah," the state-run National News Agency reported. On Friday, at least one United Nations peacekeeper was wounded after a group of Hezbollah-aligned protesters set a U.N. vehicle on fire near the airport.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Beqaei accused Israel of threatening a passenger plane carrying Lebanese citizens, "disrupting normal flights to Beirut airport," according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. He described this as a "continuous and flagrant violation of international law and Lebanon's sovereignty" and urged the international community, particularly the International Civil Aviation Organization, to "put an end to Israel's dangerous behavior regarding aviation security."
On Thursday evening, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani announced that Lebanon had canceled permits for two weekly flights between Iran and Lebanon. Amani linked the decision to accusations earlier this week by Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee, who claimed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force and Hezbollah had “used the IAF in recent weeks, through civilian flights, to smuggle funds to arm” Hezbollah.
In response, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport said it was "assiduously" following the matter. "The minister is directly overseeing this file in full coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Middle East Airlines to ensure the swift and dignified return of the Lebanese stranded in Tehran," the ministry said in a statement.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that "Israel seeks to retain control over five strategic high-ground positions in southern Lebanon beyond its withdrawal deadline."
This move presents a diplomatic challenge for the Biden administration as it works to maintain a fragile cease-fire in the region, the report said.
Israel has repeatedly stated that these positions are vital for its defense following its months-long war with Hezbollah.
Lebanon, however, has rejected this claim, fueling tensions over the agreement that ended the fighting, which saw thousands of Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
The WSJ noted that Israel has previously sought to secure key strategic sites, such as seizing the peak of Mount Hermon in Syria after the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s regime and expanding a buffer zone inside Gaza following a 16-month war with Hamas.
