Tense Inspection of Mahan Air Flight at Beirut Airport Suspected of Carrying Money for Hezbollah

Lebanese media reported that a Mahan Air flight, upon landing at Beirut Airport, was 'carefully' inspected due to suspicions of carrying money from the Islamic Republic for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The ISNA news agency also stated that the Iranian embassy sent a 'clarification note' regarding the contents of two diplomatic suitcases to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, stating that these suitcases 'contained documents and cash for operational expenses at the embassy.' According to reports from Lebanese networks and other regional media, Bassam Mawlawi, Lebanon's Minister of Interior, issued an order for a thorough inspection of the aircraft and its passengers, stating that if cash was found, it would be 'confiscated in favor of the Lebanese government.' Reports indicate that after the plane landed on Thursday evening, January 3, at Rafic Hariri Airport, Lebanese security agents boarded the aircraft for inspection and searched all passengers and crew. The Minister of Interior told MTV in Beirut that the inspection of the aircraft was ongoing and that airport security forces were following instructions. Lebanese media also reported that a 'diplomat' from the Islamic Republic's embassy at the airport opposed a body search of himself and his accompanying suitcases, leading to tensions with security forces. Before the plane's arrival at the airport, 'Western sources' told Al-Hadath that the Mahan Air flight, which was scheduled to arrive in Beirut that day, was likely carrying new financial aid from Iran for Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a militia group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran and also a political party that controls a large part of southern Lebanon. The Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported that security measures at Beirut Airport were heightened on Thursday evening, and a runway far from the airport was designated for the landing of the Mahan Air flight. According to media affiliated with Hezbollah, at the same time as the airport events, supporters of the group formed a protest rally on motorcycles, and the Lebanese army was ordered to block the road leading to the airport to prevent their surge. Meanwhile, Iranian media, including ISNA, referred to the 'unusual inspection' of the passengers of the Iranian aircraft and reported that Beirut Airport on Thursday evening 'witnessed severe and unprecedented security measures' against the Mahan Air flight, which 'caused tensions.' ISNA also reported that this incident continued until late at night and 'led to security and political interventions to calm the situation.' According to ISNA, citing the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, the Iranian embassy sent a 'clarification note' regarding the contents of the two diplomatic suitcases to this ministry, stating that these suitcases 'contained documents and cash for operational expenses at the embassy.' However, the report did not specify the amount of cash inside the 'diplomatic suitcases.' Hezbollah's Secretary-General: $77 million will be paid to Lebanese households with Iranian support. Hezbollah Lebanon, which had entered a military campaign against Israel for 14 months simultaneously with the war in Gaza, has begun a major reconstruction plan for the group after suffering blows from Israeli attacks. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has entered its second month, giving both Hezbollah and Israel an opportunity to rebuild the damaged areas on both sides of the border. Statements from Hezbollah leaders indicate that they need Iranian money for reconstruction. Ali Daimouch, Deputy of Hezbollah's Executive Council, this week thanked the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran for his 'concern' for Lebanon. Sheikh Daimouch announced the start of the 'Promise and Commitment' campaign to 'remove the effects of Israeli aggressions against Lebanon' and stated that the Secretary-General of Hezbollah has formed a monitoring committee for reconstruction. Previously, Naeem Qassem, the new Secretary-General of Hezbollah, had announced that 'with the grace' of the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an amount of $77 million would be made available to the group, and each family whose home was damaged during Israeli operations in southern Lebanon would receive $14,000 for one year to cover rent and purchase essential items. According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the Israeli army has adopted a policy of 'active intervention' to prevent the arrival of money and arms shipments from Iran to Hezbollah. Last month, in the final days of Bashar al-Assad's rule, the Israeli army ordered an Iranian aircraft that was in the air on its way to Syria and suspected of transferring a shipment for Hezbollah to return. The U.S. Treasury Department and the European Union consider Mahan Air to be a collaborator of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the transfers intended for the IRGC's proxy groups in the region. The United States designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, while the European Union has placed its military wing on the blacklist but does not consider its political wing to be terrorist. The political wing of Hezbollah also has representatives in the Lebanese parliament.