Beirut saw heightened tensions on Thursday as Hezbollah supporters blocked access to Rafic Hariri International Airport following the Lebanese authorities’ decision to prevent an Iranian Mahan Air flight from landing. The protestors, carrying Hezbollah flags and images of their leaders, set tires ablaze and chanted slogans against the move.
The flight in question was scheduled to depart from Tehran to Beirut on Thursday, February 14, but was denied permission to land by Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. A Lebanese airport official confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport instructed the airport to inform Mahan Air that it would not be allowed to receive the two scheduled flights on Thursday and Friday. The official did not provide a specific reason for the decision.
Reports indicate that passengers on the canceled flights were left stranded at both Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport and Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport, leading to frustration and anger.
Following the announcement, dozens of Hezbollah supporters took to the streets, blocking the roads leading to Beirut’s airport. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators setting fire to tires, waving Hezbollah flags, and shouting slogans condemning the flight ban. Some protesters also displayed images of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was reportedly killed in an airstrike last year.
The Lebanese Army intervened to prevent further escalation and clear blocked roads. Clashes between protesters and security forces were reported, with tensions running high as authorities attempted to restore order and allow normal airport operations to resume.
The cancellation of the flights has sparked widespread controversy in Lebanon, with Hezbollah and its allies denouncing the decision as politically motivated. Lebanese lawmaker Ibrahim Mousawi condemned what he described as an attack on Lebanese sovereignty and accused the international community of turning a blind eye to such violations.
Hezbollah has long denied accusations that it uses Beirut’s airport for weapons and money transfers. In response to concerns, Lebanese authorities have reportedly increased inspections at the airport, particularly of Iranian flights.
Meanwhile, Lebanese’s government has remained largely silent on the incident, with no official explanation given for blocking Mahan Air’s flights. Hezbollah supporters are now pressuring the government for answers and urging an immediate reversal of the decision.
With rising tensions, this incident underscores Iran’s continued interference in the Middle East, using proxies like Hezbollah to expand its influence and destabilize the region. Tehran’s support for armed groups has fueled conflicts and deepened divisions within Lebanon’s already fragile political landscape. Observers warn that Iran’s strategic use of civilian infrastructure to further its geopolitical ambitions could provoke further unrest and exacerbate instability across the region. As the crisis unfolds, Hezbollah supporters remain defiant, vowing to resist what they see as an unjust blockade on their Iranian backers.