Protests Erupt at Beirut Airport Over Canceled Iranian Flights Amid Israeli Claims of Smuggling

In a significant escalation, the Israeli military has conducted its first airstrike on Beirut since agreeing to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in November 2023. The strike, which occurred on March 28, 2025, targeted a drone storage facility in Dahiyeh, a confirmed Hezbollah stronghold in the city's southern suburbs. The Israeli army used social media to warn civilians to evacuate the area prior to the attack, emphasizing its intent to retaliate against missile strikes launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, according to military sources. Lebanon's government responded by closing all schools and universities in the Hadath suburb, where the strike took place. Reports from Associated Press journalists noted visible smoke and heard explosions in the area, which also includes residential buildings and schools. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that stability in northern Israel is contingent on peace in Beirut. Tensions have risen since Hezbollah's attacks on Israel in response to the conflict involving Hamas. While the ceasefire was meant to ensure Israeli troop withdrawals from Lebanon, Israel has continued targeted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, primarily aimed at Hezbollah.

Lebanon has denied permission for Iranian flights to land in Beirut twice this week following warnings from the United States that Israel might shoot down these planes, according to a Lebanese security source cited by AFP. The first incident occurred on February 15, when Lebanese authorities informed Iran that a flight scheduled to arrive in Beirut should not take off. Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, of utilizing Beirut’s airport to transport weapons and funds from Iran. Both Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have denied these allegations. The recent flight bans reflect escalating tensions in the region, particularly amid fears of heightened military action. The situation underscores the complex interplay of regional geopolitics, with Lebanon navigating its relationships with both Iran and Israel while managing domestic security concerns. Further developments are anticipated as regional players respond to the evolving security landscape.

Protests erupted in Beirut on February 14, 2025, as demonstrators blocked access to Lebanon's only commercial airport in response to the cancellation of a passenger flight from Iran. According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency, protesters expressed anger towards government officials and airport authorities, accusing them of yielding to Israeli pressure to prohibit the flight. The Lebanese civil aviation agency announced that "additional security measures" have led to the temporary rescheduling of some flights, expected to last until February 18, coinciding with a ceasefire deadline between Israel and Hezbollah. Earlier statements from the Israeli military claimed that Iran and Hezbollah were using civilian flights at Beirut Airport to transport funds for terrorist activities aimed at Israel. Furthermore, Lebanon's parliamentary speaker, Nabih Berri, stated that the country has rejected Israel's demand for military presence in five locations in southern Lebanon post-deadline, while confirming that the U.S. has informed Lebanon of Israeli plans to withdraw from occupied villages by February 18.