WANA (Feb 14) – Lebanon’s aviation authorities blocked an Iranian flight from Tehran to Beirut last night, triggering protests among Lebanese citizens.

 

Angry demonstrators took to the streets, blocking the highway leading to Rafic Hariri International Airport. Protesters burned tires along the airport road in response to the decision.

 

Saeed Chalanderi, the director of Imam Khomeini Airport, stated that Lebanon did not issue the necessary flight permit, and Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization is working to obtain authorization from the destination country.

 

In a statement, Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority explained that the flight schedule changes were implemented to ensure passenger safety and security. The statement emphasized that these adjustments comply with international aviation regulations, including those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Lebanese law.

 

The statement further noted that since some airlines require additional time to adapt to these regulations, flight schedules— including certain arrivals from Iran— have been temporarily modified until February 18. It added that airlines were informed of these changes on Thursday to allow passengers to adjust their bookings accordingly.

 

Additionally, Lebanon’s national airline is making arrangements for a flight from Beirut to Tehran on Friday night to return stranded passengers.

 

Some Lebanese sources claim that U.S. pressure influenced Lebanon’s decision. According to these reports, Lebanese authorities suspect the Tehran-Beirut flight may have been carrying financial aid from Iran to Hezbollah, leading to its cancellation.

 

Lebanese MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi reacted to the cancellation of the Tehran-Beirut flight, urging all Lebanese citizens to condemn what he described as a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence by the Israeli regime.

 

Al-Moussawi stated that Lebanese citizens who trust in the country’s legal institutions now expect the government to take necessary measures to assert its authority over all public institutions, including the airport. He warned that failure to do so could embolden the enemy to continue violating Lebanon’s sovereignty.

 

He called on the Lebanese government and its affiliated institutions to take immediate action to resolve the issue, ensure the safe return of stranded citizens, and resist any form of external threats.

 

Concluding his statement, Al-Moussawi urged patriotic Lebanese citizens to handle the situation with vigilance, allowing legal measures to resolve the matter. He emphasized the importance of expressing opposition to violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty in a responsible and peaceful manner.