Iran accused Israel of interfering with flights between Tehran and Beirut after an Iranian aircraft was refused landing rights in Lebanon’s capital.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei alleged that Israel had threatened a passenger plane with Lebanese passengers flying from Tehran, causing a disruption in Beirut’s air traffic. He criticized the alleged intervention as a violation of international law and called on the International Civil Aviation Organization to take measures against Israel’s “dangerous behavior” endangering civil aviation security.
In retaliation, Iran denied Lebanese planes from flying back dozens of Lebanese citizens who were stuck in Iran, declaring that Lebanese flights would not be permitted to land until Iranian planes were free to fly into Beirut. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, asserted that Tehran would remove restrictions only if Iranian flights were allowed to resume.
The confrontation has stranded Lebanese pilgrims in Iran for three days after finishing a religious pilgrimage. The Iranian statement did not elaborate on the purported Israeli threat, but it comes after accusations by an Israeli military spokesperson that Iran’s Quds Force and Hezbollah have exploited civilian flights to transport money to Beirut.
Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have rejected these claims, refuting reports that Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport has been utilized for the transfer of arms. Israel has often accused Hezbollah of using the airport for weapon shipments and has targeted the region in the past during its war with the Lebanese group.
Lebanon’s aviation department announced Thursday short-term flight rescheduling, including Iranian flights, due to increased security precautions. The modifications will be effective through February 18, in harmony with the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement deadline.
The controversy has incited unrest in Lebanon, as supporters of Hezbollah cut roads near the Beirut airport and set tires afire to protest the restriction on flights.
