Hezbollah Supporters Block Beirut Roads After Iranian Plane Prohibited From Landing

Latest Developments

• Beirut Airport Entrances Blocked: Lebanese civilians blockaded roads surrounding Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on February 13 after Lebanese aviation authorities barred an Iranian Mahan Air flight from landing. Hezbollah flag-waving rioters burned tires and brandished photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an IDF airstrike in September 2024, sparking clashes with the Lebanese Army, which eventually dispersed the crowds.
• Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Smuggling Cash From Iran on Civilian Flights: Israel accused the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah on February 12 of ferrying cash on civilian flights from Tehran to Lebanon in order to restrengthen its forces. IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee said that “the IDF will not allow the organization to get stronger and will use all the tools at its disposal to enforce the understandings in the ceasefire agreement.” A January 31 Wall Street Journalreport cited a U.S. defense official who said that Iranian diplomats and others on Tehran-chartered flights were smuggling suitcases stuffed with U.S. dollars into Lebanon to be transferred to Hezbollah.
• Ceasefire to End Tuesday: The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which has been in effect since November 27, 2024, is set to end on February 18, having already been extended once in January. The IDF will reportedly maintain troop presence at five defensive posts in southern Lebanon beyond the end date, with Israel saying that the Lebanese Armed Forces has not yet fulfilled its obligations to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and disarm the group south of the Litani River.

FDD Expert Response

“Lebanon did not block the Mahan Air flight of its own free will. It did so because the day prior, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson highlighted Iran’s use of incoming civilian flights to Beirut to resupply Hezbollah. This has been a notable pattern since November 27 — Israel explicitly calls out Lebanon’s derelictions and Lebanon responds with cosmetic and temporary behaviors meant to give the impression that Beirut is living up to its ceasefire obligations. Otherwise, Iranian flights have been making routine flights to Beirut. With the ceasefire expiration deadline nearing, Lebanon is seeking to create the impression that it is acting against Hezbollah to increase international pressure on Israel to withdraw. So far, however, there are no indications that these limited actions portend a fundamental, sustained change in how Lebanon intends to deal with Hezbollah.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“The clashes outside Beirut’s airport demonstrate that Hezbollah still commands a great deal of support among Lebanon’s Shia community. That’s another sign that Iran’s proxy remains a live threat and will only bolster Israel’s conviction that peace on its northern border requires a significant IDF presence because the Lebanese state doesn’t have the strength or the willingness to rein in Hezbollah.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel to Reportedly Maintain Key Defensive Positions in South Lebanon Beyond Withdrawal Date”, FDD Flash Brief

“Naim Qassem announces the date of Nasrallah’s funeral,” by David Daoud

“Lebanon’s prime minister-designate is unlikely to confront Hezbollah,” by David Daoud