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Lebanon Inspects Iranian Mahan Air Flight at Beirut Airport, Suspected of Carrying Millions to Hezbollah

Jan 3, 2025, 07:20 AM

Lebanon conducted a thorough inspection of an Iranian Mahan Air flight at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday, suspecting it of carrying millions of dollars intended for Hezbollah. The inspection was prompted by reports from Western sources, cited by the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, that Iran planned to transfer the funds via the flight from Tehran to Beirut. Lebanese security officials searched the plane and all passengers, including a diplomatic delegation from the Iranian embassy in Beirut. A diplomat from the embassy refused to have his diplomatic bag inspected, leading to tensions at the airport. The Lebanese authorities ultimately confiscated the contents of the bag, which the Iranian embassy claimed were documents and cash for embassy operating expenses. The situation led to heightened security measures at the airport and a protest by Hezbollah supporters, with the Lebanese army closing roads leading to the airport. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry later stated that it received a note from the Iranian embassy explaining that the two small diplomatic bags contained documents and cash for embassy expenses, and allowed their entry into the country.