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

LBLebanon|

Protests erupted at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on February 14, 2025, as demonstrators blocked access with burning tires following the cancellation of an Iranian passenger flight. The protests were directed at the Lebanese government and airport authorities, who were accused of succumbing to Israeli pressure to cancel the flight, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.

The Lebanese civil aviation agency announced that “additional security measures” would lead to temporary rescheduling of some flights until February 18, coinciding with a deadline for ceasefire enforcement between Israel and Hezbollah. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military alleged that Iranian and Hezbollah operatives used Beirut Airport to smuggle funds for terrorist activities.

In response, Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker reported that the country rejected Israeli demands for ongoing military presence in five southern locations post-February 18. An extended withdrawal plan for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is expected to coincide with the deployment of Lebanese military alongside UN forces, as confirmed by US mediators.

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