Israel ‘starting to focus on specific targets in southern Lebanon’

BEIRUT: A passenger’s display of support for Hezbollah after her arrival at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport caused tension and resentment among other travelers.

The woman, whose actions were recorded on video and shared on social media, was criticized “inciting trouble in the airport.”  

She claimed that a security officer at the airport prevented her from raising a Hezbollah flag and pictures of former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on airport premises.

Her reaction led to an altercation among travelers and those waiting at the airport.

The woman claimed that a military intelligence officer requested her not to display the pictures inside the airport, saying: “Raise them outside.”

Ensuing developments then caused tension among the passengers arriving at the airport.

As seen in video clips recorded by passengers at the airport and circulated on social media, the woman held up a picture of Nasrallah.

She said: “This is Lebanon’s airport; this is the real Lebanon. We are here in our airport, and you are not the one to stop us from raising or placing the picture wherever we want.”

She continued shouting, accusing those preventing her from displaying the pictures of “taking orders from the Israelis.”

She added: “They should be the ones to leave, not us. If anyone does not like it, they can leave Lebanon. This is our homeland.”

Some returning passengers supported her stance, chanting: “At your service, Nasrallah,” further escalating tensions.

This incident came just days after Hezbollah supporters staged protests on the airport road after the authorities’ refusal to grant landing permission to an Iranian civilian aircraft.

The ban remains in effect due to Israeli threats to target Iranian planes and the airport in Beirut.

The protests included roadblocks in Beirut and turned into riots as protesters burned car tires and dumped rubbish in the streets, and even intercepted a UNIFIL convoy, assaulting the UNIFIL deputy commander and his escort, who were both taken to hospital.

The demonstrations culminated in clashes with the Lebanese army, leading to the arrest of dozens of rioters.

Public Prosecutor Jamal Al-Hajjar is expected to conclude preliminary investigations into the actions of detainees suspected of attacking three UNIFIL military vehicles and setting one on fire.

He received initial reports from the military Intelligence Directorate concerning 30 people held for questioning.

A judicial source told Arab News that 10 detainees had been identified as participants in the attack.

The case will be forwarded to the Military Prosecutor's Office to file charges against those involved in crimes that may include attempted murder, vandalism, destruction of military vehicles, arson, and rioting.

Also on Thursday, officials said there had been an unusual influx of flights carrying passengers returning to Lebanon at the airport, some arriving via Iraq to attend the funerals of Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Safieddine.

The two men were killed in September and October during Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The war delayed their funeral processions.

The funeral is scheduled for next Sunday at Camille Chamoun sports stadium at the southern entrance to Beirut.

Nasrallah will be buried on a plot of land owned by Hezbollah on the old airport road, parallel to Beirut’s southern suburbs, and Safieddine will be buried in his hometown in the south.

Beirut airport announced the suspension of flights during the funeral processions, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with all flights for that day being rescheduled.

Hezbollah said that participants from 79 countries would attend the funeral, including Iran, Iraq and Yemen.

Hezbollah delegations continue to send invitations to Lebanese officials and party leaders, including Hezbollah’s opponents.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani called on the Lebanese state to arrest the Houthi leaders who will attend Nasrallah’s funeral and hand them over to the Yemeni government.

Al-Eryani said in a post on social media that “the participation of the Houthi officials in the funeral affirms their unwavering support for Iran, and their ongoing involvement in the Iranian project in the region, while the Yemeni people suffer from war, hunger, poverty, and disease due to their destructive policies.”

The Yemeni official believes that “this is not a mere participation in the funeral, but an attempt to gather all the leaders of the Iranian axis and assess the situation after the blows they received.”

He emphasized the importance of “ensuring that Lebanon doesn’t become a safe haven for the leaders of the armed group, in compliance with international resolutions.”

During a press conference, Nasser Akhdar, the head of Hezbollah’s media committee for the funeral procession, confirmed that Hezbollah will go ahead with the funeral regardless of the circumstances.

“This includes any security issues arising from the ongoing Israeli occupation in the south, as well as any adverse weather conditions if the meteorologists’ predictions are accurate,” he said.

“Preparations are ongoing, invitations are being distributed, and the funeral will take place as scheduled.”