Cancellation of Mahan Flights; Protesters Set UN Vehicle on Fire Near Beirut Airport

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) described the burning of one of its vehicles near Beirut airport as "horrific" and a "clear violation of international law," calling for the prosecution of those responsible. The UN confirmed that a convoy of vehicles carrying peacekeepers, marked with the organization's emblem, was violently attacked on the evening of Friday, February 15, resulting in one vehicle being set on fire. UNIFIL emphasized that such attacks against peacekeeping forces are a "clear violation of international law" and "may constitute a war crime," demanding a thorough and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and the prosecution of all perpetrators. According to the official Lebanese news agency, the burned vehicle was carrying Chuck Bahadur Dakal, UNIFIL's deputy, who has been hospitalized. Agence France-Presse reported that the identity of the attackers remains unknown, while supporters of Hezbollah blocked the road leading to Beirut's "Rafik Hariri" airport for the second consecutive day. The Lebanese army stated that protesters were attacking UNIFIL vehicles and also assaulting army forces in an attempt to close the airport road, warning that these actions could lead to "internal tensions with dire consequences." Following the cancellation of two flights by Mahan Airlines to Beirut, a group of protesters holding Hezbollah flags blocked areas on the road leading to the airport on Thursday and Friday. An airport official had previously told Agence France-Presse that, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Transport's order, Mahan Airlines was informed that the permits for two of its flights to Beirut were canceled. This official, who requested anonymity, stated that these two flights were scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Hours before the news of Mahan's flight cancellations, the Israeli army announced that the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was attempting to transfer money to Hezbollah using civilian flights. Ismail Baqai, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that the "threat" from Israel caused "disruption" in normal flights to Beirut airport, condemning this action as a "violation of international law." Additionally, it was reported on Friday that Iranian authorities did not allow two aircraft from the Lebanese airline "Middle East" to land at Tehran airport. These planes were dispatched to bring back Lebanese citizens. According to Mojtaba Amani, the Iranian ambassador in Beirut, Iran will only allow Lebanese planes to land if Iranian flights are also granted permission to enter Beirut. The CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City stated that flights between Tehran and Beirut are still not operating. However, on Friday, the new Lebanese Foreign Minister, Youssef Raji, stated that he is negotiating with his Iranian counterpart to resolve this issue. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group, suffered heavy losses in the recent war with Israel, including the deaths of its leader and many senior commanders. About five months ago, amid the Israel-Hezbollah war, the Lebanese Ministry of Transport denied an Iranian plane entry into its airspace. Prior to that, Israel had warned the Beirut airport control tower that it would use military force if the plane landed. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in effect since November 28, and last month, political factions in Lebanon reached an agreement on Joseph Aoun after about two and a half years of the presidential post being vacant, with Hezbollah losing its veto power in the new government.