Lebanon is once again facing the fallout of a conflict far beyond its control. Over the course of Friday night and into Saturday morning, a volley of Iranian missiles and drones, intercepted mid-air by Israeli defenses, zipped through Lebanese skies, thus turning the country’s airspace into a dangerous no-man’s-land.

The barrage left many Lebanese people fearful that any stray missiles, malfunction or falling debris could result in disaster on their doorsteps.

As Iranian missiles and Israeli countermeasures cross through the same corridors, military analysts warn Lebanon could be drawn further into the regional conflict, putting both civilian lives and national security at risk.

“The use of Lebanese airspace by Iranian missiles and drones en route to Israel presents critical threats on multiple fronts,” retired Brigadier General Saeed Al-Qazaz told Asharq Al-Awsat. “It effectively transforms Lebanon into a battlefield.”

He cautioned that such scenarios heighten the risk of projectiles falling into populated areas, as seen Friday night when one missile reportedly landed near the village of Beit Shama, west of Baalbek, shaking parts of the Bekaa Valley and sparking fears of further fallout.

“Israeli attempts to intercept these threats above Lebanese territory can cause serious harm,” Al-Qazaz added. “Missiles that malfunction or run out of fuel, or even the debris from interception, can be as deadly as a direct strike.”

The military risks are compounded by concerns over aviation safety. Al-Qazaz warned that Lebanon’s busy airspace could become a death trap for commercial aircraft operating in the region.

“There is a real and immediate threat to civilian air navigation,” he said. “Closing the airspace is not only justified, but also necessary under such volatile conditions.”

He also criticized the unapproved use of Lebanon’s skies by foreign powers, calling it “a clear violation of international law,” and cited the 1944 Chicago Convention, which guarantees states full sovereignty over their airspace.

“The Lebanese government has a legal and moral responsibility to prevent such violations,” he said, adding that if a missile launched over Lebanon were to cause damage in a third country, Beirut could face international liability.

Despite Lebanon’s limited leverage, Al-Qazaz insisted that the government must act diplomatically and politically. He urged officials to file a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council over repeated airspace violations by both Israel and Iran.

“Even if there’s little hope for decisive action, silence is not an option,” he said. “Failing to protest these violations undermines our sovereignty and increases our exposure to conflict.”