Tear Gas Fired at Hezbollah Supporters Protesting Lebanon Blocking Iranian Flight

Lebanese army fire tear gas during a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
Lebanese army fire tear gas during a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
TT

Tear Gas Fired at Hezbollah Supporters Protesting Lebanon Blocking Iranian Flight

Lebanese army fire tear gas during a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
Lebanese army fire tear gas during a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)

The Lebanese army fired tear gas on Saturday at Hezbollah supporters protesting around Beirut airport against Lebanon blocking an Iranian flight to Beirut this week after the Israeli military accused Tehran of using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Lebanese group.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah called on the army to hold those who fired at the protesters to account.

The Lebanese army and government "should have held immediate meetings to prevent the Israeli enemy from imposing its dictates on the airport and from continuing its occupation of Lebanese territory ... instead of using force against a peaceful sit-in on the airport road," Fadlallah added in a statement.

Iran barred Lebanese planes from repatriating dozens of Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran on Friday, in a standoff between the two countries following what Tehran described as an Israeli threat to attack it.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke to his Lebanese counterpart by phone on the matter and both "declared their readiness for constructive talks," state media said, without elaborating.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday had said that Israel had threatened a passenger plane carrying Lebanese citizens from Tehran, disrupting flights to Beirut airport. He condemned the alleged Israeli threat as a violation of international law.



Israeli Army Says It Intercepted a Missile Launched from Yemen

Much of Yemen is controlled by Iran-backed Houthi group, who have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians | Photo Credit: AFP
Much of Yemen is controlled by Iran-backed Houthi group, who have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians | Photo Credit: AFP
TT

Israeli Army Says It Intercepted a Missile Launched from Yemen

Much of Yemen is controlled by Iran-backed Houthi group, who have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians | Photo Credit: AFP
Much of Yemen is controlled by Iran-backed Houthi group, who have been firing missiles and drones at Israel -- as well as at ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden -- in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians | Photo Credit: AFP

The Israeli army announced on Friday that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi group routinely targets Israel with missiles and drones.
The Israeli army said on Telegram: “Shortly after the sirens sounded, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted”.