Lebanon Extends Ban on Flights from Iran

Lebanon has extended its suspension of flights between Beirut and Tehran, the Lebanese government announced on Monday.

Authorities decided to “mandate the Minister of Public Works and Transport to extend the suspension period of flights to and from Iran,” Lebanese presidency spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine told reporters after a cabinet meeting, without specifying when flights would resume.

The announcement came after Lebanon last week denied permission for two Iranian flights to land in Beirut, following allegations publicized by the Israel Defense Forces that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Thursday that it had “temporarily rescheduled” some flights, including those from Iran, until February 18 as it implemented “additional security measures.”

The extension of the flight suspension comes ahead of the burial ceremony for Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike last October.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said Iran will participate at a “high level” in the ceremony.

Nasrallah is temporarily buried in an undisclosed location.