Hezbollah demands army probe into attack on protesters near airport
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The group warns that the latest assault on protesters is a suspicious attempt to drag the Lebanese army into a confrontation with its own people and citizens.
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A member of the Lebanese Army riot-control forces fires a shotgun as they try to disperse a Hezbollah-organized rally to block the road to Beirut International Airport over a decision to bar two Iranian flights from landing there, in Beirut, on February 15, 2025 (AFP)
The popular sit-in organized by Hezbollah Saturday, in protest against the blatant Israeli interference in Lebanese affairs and the violation of national sovereignty, was a peaceful movement and a civil expression of popular opposition to unjustified foreign diktats, the Lebanese party said in a statement.
However, according to Hezbollah, the protesters were shocked when some members of the Lebanese Army fired tear gas canisters at them, an act that is both reprehensible and constitutes an unjustified assault on peaceful citizens.
The group warned that the latest assault on protesters is a suspicious attempt to drag the Lebanese army into a confrontation with its own people and citizens.
Earlier today, #Hezbollah called for a popular protest to denounce "Israeli interference" and "the imposition of conditions on national sovereignty" near #Beirut's vital Airport Road.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 15, 2025
During the protest, the #LebaneseArmy fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators, resulting in… pic.twitter.com/1T6YUgAIQN
Hezbollah called on the army leadership to conduct an urgent investigation into this condemned attack and take appropriate measures to preserve the military institution’s role in protecting stability and civil peace.
It also called on the Lebanese government to fully assume its responsibilities in protecting peaceful protesters and their right to express their positions and demands.
In the same context, the Lebanese party demanded that the government retract its decision to prevent Iranian planes from landing at Beirut airport and take serious measures to prevent "Israel" from imposing its diktats and violating national sovereignty.
Additionally, Hezbollah condemned the attack on the International Peacekeeping Forces (UNIFIL) near Rafic Hariri International Airport the day before yesterday, reiterating its firm rejection of any targeting of these forces or any damage to public and private property.
On Saturday, Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit chief, Wafiq Safa, told Al Mayadeen that the party had no connection to the incident involving UNIFIL.
He emphasized that Hezbollah maintains good relations with UNIFIL, and coordination between them is comprehensive, describing what happened near the airport as "unacceptable".
Hezbollah had called for participation in a popular sit-in on Beirut Airport Road to protest Israeli interference, the imposition of conditions, and the violation of national sovereignty.
During the demonstration, some Lebanese Army personnel began firing tear gas at the protesters, leading to some demonstrators fainting and choking.
Over the past two days, the vital Beirut Airport Road has witnessed protests against the Lebanese authorities' continued refusal to allow Iranian planes to land in Lebanese territory, which resulted in Lebanese citizens being stranded in Iran. as of yet.
Calls to protest and block the airport road spread across social media, condemning the decision, which came a day after Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli occupation military, posted on X claims that Beirut airport was being used to transfer funds to Hezbollah via Iranian planes.
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