Lebanon and Israel Tensions Escalate Over Iranian Flight Blocked from Landing

Lebanese authorities recently took a firm stance by preventing an Iranian passenger plane from landing at Beirut International Airport. This move comes after warnings from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), raising tensions between Lebanon, Iran, and Israel.

The Iranian plane, which had taken off from Tehran and was carrying Lebanese passengers, was intercepted due to concerns from Israel that the aircraft could be involved in smuggling money to Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group. According to Israeli military sources, Iran has been using civilian flights to transfer funds to Hezbollah to further arm them for potential attacks against Israel.

In response to the Lebanese decision, Hezbollah supporters took to the streets, blocking roads near the airport in protest. The IDF’s Arabic Spokesman, Avichay Adraee, publicly claimed that the IDF has been monitoring flights in recent weeks and that some attempts to smuggle money have been successful. The warning specifically mentioned that Iran was exploiting international air traffic to fund Hezbollah's military efforts. In light of this, the IDF made it clear that it would not allow any aircraft suspected of carrying such illicit cargo to land in Lebanon.

This is not the first time tensions have risen over Iranian flights. In September 2024, Israel allegedly hacked into Beirut’s air traffic control communications system, preventing an Iranian cargo plane from landing. That incident led to further diplomatic friction and raised questions about Lebanon’s airspace sovereignty.

Iran’s Response and Retaliation

Following the blocking of its aircraft, Iran retaliated by refusing to allow Lebanese flights carrying stranded citizens to return to Beirut. The standoff left dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran for three days after attending a religious pilgrimage. Iranian officials condemned the Israeli threat to their passenger plane as a violation of international law, exacerbating the diplomatic crisis.

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, stated that while Iran would allow flights from Lebanon to land, the condition was that Iranian planes should not be hindered from entering Beirut. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has since been working to mediate the situation, although tensions remain high.

Hezbollah's Role in the Crisis

The ongoing conflict between Lebanon’s government and Hezbollah is another key factor driving these tensions. Hezbollah, a powerful political and military faction, has been accused of using the Lebanese state infrastructure to further its own military ambitions, often with the backing of Iran. This situation has raised concerns over Lebanon’s sovereignty, with Hezbollah’s influence over the Lebanese government continuing to grow.

On Thursday, Hezbollah parliamentarian Ibrahim al-Moussawi called for the Lebanese government to take stronger measures to ensure the country's sovereignty, particularly over its airports, which have become battlegrounds for regional power struggles.