Hezbollah Supporters Riot Following Ban on Iranian Planes Landing in Beirut

State media and an airport official in Lebanon reported that supporters of Hezbollah blocked the road leading to Beirut airport and set tires on fire on Thursday evening in protest against the decision to ban the landing of two Iranian planes in the Lebanese capital. Images from AFP show some men holding Hezbollah's yellow flag alongside pictures of Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli attack in September, and Qassem Soleimani, the slain commander of the Quds Force. The National News Agency of Lebanon also reported that clashes occurred between protesters and Lebanese army soldiers as the army was deployed in the area. Israeli and Lebanese media reported on Thursday evening that Lebanese authorities canceled the landing permission for an Iranian passenger plane belonging to Mahan Air at Beirut International Airport following warnings from the Israeli army. AFP stated that another flight from Tehran to Beirut scheduled for Friday was also canceled due to this warning. According to reports, the Mahan Airlines flight on Thursday, which was en route to Beirut with passengers from Tehran, had to return to Imam Khomeini Airport due to the cancellation of landing permission at Rafic Hariri Airport. Images shared on social media show that some Lebanese passengers on this flight are angry due to confusion and delays at Tehran airport. In one of these images, a man speaks in Arabic, asking Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament who is close to Hezbollah, to guarantee the return of Lebanese passengers. He says, 'We have been waiting here since this morning. We are Lebanese... no one can control us.' Several forces affiliated with the Islamic Republic and the Revolutionary Guards announced on social media that they intended to reach Beirut with these flights to participate in the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, which is set to take place next week. Israel has repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of using Beirut airport to transfer money and weapons to Hezbollah. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday 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. According to the Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army, the Quds Force has been transferring this money to Lebanon via civilian flights to be used for Hezbollah's reconstruction, but 'Israel will not allow Hezbollah to be strengthened and will use all available means to enforce the terms of the ceasefire agreement and ensure the security of Israeli citizens.' Security forces at Rafic Hariri Airport in Beirut inspected a Mahan Air plane on January 3 on suspicion of carrying financial aid for Hezbollah, during which the contents of a bag belonging to an Iranian diplomat were confiscated after cash was discovered by Lebanese authorities. This inspection also created tensions between Hezbollah forces and Lebanese army soldiers. Hezbollah officials in Lebanon have repeatedly emphasized their financial and military ties to the Islamic Republic of Iran.