Lebanon extends suspension of flights to and from Iran

Lebanese authorities said on Monday they had extended the suspension of inbound and outbound flights to Iran indefinitely, after originally barring Iranian planes from landing in Beirut until February 18.

Authorities have decided to “mandate the Minister of Public Works and Transport to extend the suspension period of flights to and from Iran,” the Lebanese presidency’s spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine told reporters, without specifying when flights would resume.

Lebanon halted an Iranian flight to Beirut last week after the Israeli military accused Tehran of using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Iran said in turn it would not allow Lebanese flights to land until its own flights were cleared to land in Beirut.

Supporters of Hezbollah have tried to block the main road to Beirut’s airport and clashed with Lebanese security forces, forcing them to clear the way. Additionally, they attacked UN peacekeepers on their way to the airport, wounded multiple UNIFIL troops.

These supporters have also spearheaded a smear campaign against the Lebanese government, defacing images and signs of President Joseph Aoun. Both he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have been branded as “Zionists” and “Israeli agents” by the Hezbollah supporters.