People look at flight information boards at the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon July 28, 2024. (Credit: Mohamed Azaki/Reuters)
The Iranian embassy in Beirut said on Wednesday that the deportations of Iranian citizens upon their arrival at Rafik-Hariri International Airport (RHIA) were limited measures, applied “on a case-by-case basis” due to “gaps or inconsistencies” in their legal documents.
“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following the information disseminated in the media about the forced return of several Iranian citizens from Beirut's airport, clarifies that this measure has been applied on a case-by-case basis due to administrative irregularities and that speculation about a massive expulsion of Iranian travelers is unfounded,” read the statement published by the diplomatic representation on X.
This statement came as the Lebanese government announced Monday the indefinite suspension of flights between Beirut and Tehran. The decision follows the Lebanese authorities’ refusal to allow the landing of two planes from the Iranian airline Mahan Air, after American warnings suggesting that Israel might target RHIA if these flights were maintained.
These bans have sparked anger among Hezbollah supporters, who blocked the road leading to the airport, located on the outskirts of southern Beirut, a stronghold of the party. On Friday, protesters attacked a convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), injuring several peacekeepers. The Lebanese Army, deployed to restore order, announced Sunday that more than 20 of its soldiers were injured during clashes with the protesters.
No indication currently makes it possible to establish a link between these events and the deportations of Iranian citizens. A source at the Iranian embassy in Beirut told L'Orient-Le Jour that there was nothing to add to the official statement. The Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, a security source and the airport’s management were not immediately available to comment on the information.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
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