Lebanon halted an Iranian airliner from landing in Beirut amid Israeli accusations that Iran was using civilian flights to fund Hezbollah. The airline’s action follows a series of insights regarding Israel’s scrutiny over Iranian support for the terror group. Analysts assert that Lebanon must adopt a consistent approach to monitor similar flights effectively.
Lebanon denied permission for an Iranian airliner to land in Beirut after Israel alleged that Iran was using civilian flights to transport cash to Hezbollah. Saeed Chalandri, the head of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, announced the cancellation of the Mahan Air flight before its departure due to Lebanon’s lack of authorization.
Passengers, reportedly stranded in a designated area for religious pilgrims, expressed their frustration through various video postings. Concurrently, Lebanon’s National News Agency stated that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was requesting airlines to adjust schedules temporarily while implementing heightened security measures.
Following an assertion by Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee that Iran’s Quds Force was exploiting civilian flights to smuggle money to Hezbollah, Lebanon’s government aimed to work with Middle East Airlines to assist affected passengers. Mahan Air, which is under U.S. sanctions due to its ties with Hezbollah, has seen scrutiny from international observers.
Researcher David Daoud pointed out that Lebanon’s prevenient action marked the first blockage of a Mahan Air flight after a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceasefire stipulated that Lebanon would maintain sovereignty and restrict financial and arm transfers to Hezbollah, although specifics around cash transfers were not explicitly outlined.
Adraee stressed that Israel would monitor Hezbollah’s activities closely, emphasizing that the military would not permit any escalation from the terrorist group. He indicated that Israel had been sharing intelligence with international entities to scrutinize Iranian flights and their impact on Hezbollah’s funding.
Daoud noted that this development signals heightened vigilance over Iranian operations linked to Hezbollah. He suggested that it would be imperative for Lebanon to maintain a consistent stance against Mahan Air to effectively assert its sovereignty.
Matthew Levitt welcomed Lebanon’s cancellation of the flight as an essential step towards re-establishing authority over its airspace. He cautioned, however, that continued actions in this direction were not assured, tempting uncertainty about future policy enforcement.
In summary, Lebanon’s decision to block the Iranian passenger flight underscores the tensions surrounding Hezbollah and the ongoing Israeli-Iranian hostilities. The reaction follows accusations from Israel about financial support for Hezbollah via civilian flights, amidst heightened scrutiny. Analysts emphasize the need for Lebanon to maintain consistency in safeguarding its sovereignty and to exert greater control over its airspace to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
