Lebanon bars Iranian flights after Israeli warnings 

Lebanese authorities announced on Monday that they are extending the suspension of flights between Beirut airport and Iran, until further notice. The decision was made after the authorities refused to grant landing permits for two flights of the Iranian airline Mahan Airlines, following threats by Israel to attack the airport due to suspicions that the Iranians were smuggling money and ammunition to Hezbollah via the planes.

In a meeting held by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun with the relevant ministers and the head of the airport's security apparatus, it was decided to extend the suspension of flights, after initially suspending flights until February 18. The spokesman for the Lebanese president, Najat Cherfadin, noted that "the task has been assigned to the Minister of Transport and Works to extend the period, until further notice."

In recent days, there have been violent riots in the area of Rafiq al-Hariri Airport, with Hezbollah supporters demonstrating against the decision to stop the entry of Iranian flights. Lebanese army forces worked to disperse the demonstrators using crowd control measures, using great force in some cases.