Continued Chaos from Hezbollah Supporters; Lebanese Army Resort to Tear Gas

Hezbollah supporters gathered for the third consecutive day on Saturday, February 16, protesting the prevention of Iranian flights from landing at Beirut Airport. In response, the Lebanese Army was forced to use tear gas to disperse the rioters. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah representative in the Lebanese Parliament, criticized the army's actions and called for accountability for the forces that fired tear gas at the protesters. He stated, "The army and the Lebanese government should have held urgent meetings to prevent Israeli policies from being imposed on Beirut Airport and to confront the continued occupation of Lebanese territories, rather than using force against a peaceful gathering on the way to the airport." Meanwhile, the Lebanese state news agency reported that Ahmad Hajar, the Lebanese Minister of Interior, called for an emergency meeting to assess the country's security situation before the afternoon of Saturday, February 16. He also issued necessary orders to identify the perpetrators and refer them to judicial authorities, stating that more than 25 people have been arrested for investigation regarding this attack. The U.S. State Department condemned the violent attack by Hezbollah supporters on a United Nations peacekeeping convoy (UNIFIL) in Beirut on Friday. On Saturday, February 16, the U.S. State Department released a statement appreciating the swift response of the Lebanese armed forces to prevent the escalation of violence, as well as the Lebanese government's commitment to take all necessary actions to hold those responsible for the attack accountable. UNIFIL reported that Hezbollah supporters attacked the UN peacekeeping convoy on the way to Beirut Airport, injuring and wounding Arnaldo Lazaro, the deputy representative of UNIFIL in Lebanon. The French Foreign Ministry also stated on Saturday, February 16, that France urges Lebanese security forces to ensure the safety of peacekeeping forces and calls on Lebanese judicial authorities to clarify all aspects of this unacceptable attack and to deal with the perpetrators. Israel has repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of misusing Beirut Airport to transfer money and weapons to Hezbollah. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday, February 14, that the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to smuggle cash for the "terrorist group Hezbollah" in Lebanon through Beirut International Airport in recent weeks. Following this announcement, the new Lebanese government banned Iranian airline flights to Beirut. Behind the scenes of the cancellation of Mahan Air flights to Lebanon, the Lebanese government's efforts to cut off the Islamic Republic's support for Hezbollah, the U.S. condemned the attack by "Hezbollah supporters" on peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, and the President of Lebanon stated that the attackers on the "UNIFIL" forces will be punished. The uproar in Beirut; the attack by Hezbollah supporters on UN peacekeeping forces. Analysts told Voice of America: Israel's warning about the cancellation of Mahan Air flights was effective.