Hezbollah Threatens Beirut Airport Shutdown in Defense of Iranian Flights

Hezbollah has issued a stark warning to the Lebanese government, threatening to halt all air traffic at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport if current measures against Iranian flights persist. Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah's Political Council, stated that the group would resort to "many peaceful methods" if the situation is not resolved, implying that no aircraft would be allowed to land in Beirut.

Qamati's remarks, made during an interview with Hezbollah's Al-Manar television channel, highlighted the group's growing criticism of the government's policies. He specifically pointed to the near halt in visa issuance for Iranian nationals and diplomats, as well as the continued barring of Iranian aircraft from landing. Hezbollah views these actions as a direct targeting of Iran and its representatives within Lebanon.

Sources within Lebanon's Foreign Ministry, however, asserted that Qamati's threats would not alter the government's stance. They emphasized that the decisions regarding Iranian aircraft and visa requirements are sovereign and security-driven. The ban on Iranian aircraft, they explained, was implemented following Israeli threats to target Beirut airport. Reinstating strict visa requirements for Iranian nationals was a response to intelligence indicating the presence of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon, necessitating tighter entry procedures for national security reasons.

This is not the first time Hezbollah has challenged government measures concerning Iran. In February 2025, the group organized protests against the then-Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government after an Iranian aircraft was prevented from landing at Beirut airport. Despite the protests, the government maintained its position. The ban on Iranian aircraft was initially imposed by the previous caretaker government during the 2024 war, following Israeli actions.

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Then no aircraft will land in Beirut, and no ambassador will remain in Lebanon.