The Lebanese government has rejected an Iranian request to allow two Iranian planes carrying official figures and religious authorities to land at Beirut Airport, citing concerns over potential Israeli targeting.
According to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, which quoted senior ministerial sources, the Iranian government had submitted an official request last Tuesday through its embassy in Beirut. The request sought permission for two passenger planes transporting Iranian dignitaries and religious leaders to land in Beirut to attend ceremonies organized by Hezbollah marking one year since the assassination of the party’s former secretary-generals, Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safi al-Din.
The ministerial sources explained that the Lebanese government thoroughly examined the request and conducted a series of communications to assess the risks involved—especially in light of repeated Israeli threats to target the airport if Iranian planes were allowed to land.
The sources confirmed that the outcome of these consultations revealed a real and present danger, with a high likelihood of the planes being targeted. This risk was compounded by the absence of any American commitments to provide guarantees or a security umbrella to ensure the planes’ safe landing on Lebanese soil.