Lebanon: Aoun Asks for EU’s Support to Army, Security Institutions

Lebanese army soldiers are seen on their military vehicles in the town of Ras Baalbek, Lebanon August 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho
Lebanese army soldiers are seen on their military vehicles in the town of Ras Baalbek, Lebanon August 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho
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Lebanon: Aoun Asks for EU’s Support to Army, Security Institutions

Lebanese army soldiers are seen on their military vehicles in the town of Ras Baalbek, Lebanon August 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho
Lebanese army soldiers are seen on their military vehicles in the town of Ras Baalbek, Lebanon August 21, 2017. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho

President Michel Aoun asked on Thursday the European Union (EU) to help Lebanon, particularly the army, to overcome the difficult economic crisis, and to assist in the return of Syrian refugees.

Aoun’s stance came during talks with Head of the European Union’s Military Committee General Claudio Graziano at the Presidential Palace.

The President told Graziano that “Lebanon welcomes any support provided by the EU to help overcome the difficult economic and living conditions which the Lebanese are going through, due to accumulated crises witnessed by Lebanon during the past years.”

Aoun listed the current challenges that Lebanese security institutions face, including the impact of the crisis on food, medical care, operational tasks and maintenance mechanisms.

The President tackled the importance of the EU’s assistance to return displaced Syrians to their country, especially to areas, which have become safe, and to provide them with aid.

“The continuation of the distribution of aid to them in Lebanon delays this return, knowing that Lebanon is no longer able to bear more of the burden which annually exceeds $5 billion,” he said.



Lebanon Tells Iran Its Flights to Beirut Suspended till Feb 18

 Members of the Lebanese army walk, as supporters of Hezbollah attend a protest organized by them against what they said was violation of national sovereignty, near Beirut international airport, Lebanon, February 15, 2025. (Reuters)
Members of the Lebanese army walk, as supporters of Hezbollah attend a protest organized by them against what they said was violation of national sovereignty, near Beirut international airport, Lebanon, February 15, 2025. (Reuters)
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Lebanon Tells Iran Its Flights to Beirut Suspended till Feb 18

 Members of the Lebanese army walk, as supporters of Hezbollah attend a protest organized by them against what they said was violation of national sovereignty, near Beirut international airport, Lebanon, February 15, 2025. (Reuters)
Members of the Lebanese army walk, as supporters of Hezbollah attend a protest organized by them against what they said was violation of national sovereignty, near Beirut international airport, Lebanon, February 15, 2025. (Reuters)

Lebanese aviation officials have told Iran that Iranian flights to Beirut are suspended until Tuesday, Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, was quoted as saying on Sunday by the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

Lebanon denied permission for Iranian flights to land in Beirut twice this week after the United States warned Israel might shoot the planes down, a Lebanese security source told AFP Saturday.

The first incident occurred on Thursday, when Lebanese authorities sent word to Iran that a Beirut-bound flight should not take off.

“Through the Americans, Israel informed the Lebanese state that it would target the airport if the Iranian plane landed in Lebanon,” the source said.

“The American side told the Lebanese side that Israel was serious about its threat,” the source added.

Lebanon’s public works and transport ministry then refused clearance for the flight, after consulting the prime minister and president, the source added.

The message was passed on before the flight took off, said the source.

Another flight was also barred from taking off from Iran on Friday, which prompted protests in Lebanon from supporters of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, who blocked the road to the country’s only international airport.

“The security of Beirut airport takes precedence over any other consideration,” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Saturday.

“And the safety of travelers as well as the safety of Lebanese citizens are elements on which we will not compromise.”

Israel has on several occasions accused Hezbollah of using the airport in Beirut to bring in weapons from Iran. The group -- and Lebanese leaders -- have denied those allegations.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November 27, after more than a year of hostilities and two of months of open war between Israel and Hezbollah there.