Lebanese authorities have suspended all Iranian flights to Beirut until February 18, citing security concerns in the capital, according to Iran's Civil Aviation Organization. The suspension was officially announced by Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of the Iranian aviation body, on Sunday, and was attributed to "security conditions" in Beirut as well as the "cancellation of all international flights" to the city.

Pourfarzaneh confirmed that the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to assess the developments leading up to February 18, when the suspension is set to end. 

The decision to block Iranian flights has sparked political controversy in Lebanon, particularly within Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia. On Sunday, Hezbollah issued a statement calling on the Lebanese government to reverse the flight ban. The group demanded that the government reconsider its stance, urging that "serious measures" be taken to prevent Israel from imposing any further restrictions on Lebanon's sovereignty.

Hezbollah's call for action came after reports surfaced earlier in the week that Lebanon had denied permission for two Iranian planes to land. A Lebanese source informed AFP on Saturday that the decision to block the flights followed warnings from the United States, which relayed Israel's threat to target Beirut's airport should the flights proceed. Israel has repeatedly expressed concerns over Iranian activity in Lebanon, accusing the Quds Force and Hezbollah of using the airport to smuggle money and weapons.

The first incident occurred on Thursday, when Lebanese authorities advised Iran not to allow a Beirut-bound flight to take off. The source stated that Israel communicated through the United States, indicating that the military was prepared to strike the airport if the Iranian plane landed. The Lebanese authorities, after consulting with the prime minister and president, ultimately chose to block the flight for security reasons.

A second flight was prevented from departing Iran on Friday, which led to protests from Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon. Demonstrators blocked the roads leading to Beirut's airport, voicing their dissatisfaction with the government's decision. The protests reflected the rising tension between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, with the militia accusing the authorities of yielding to external pressure from Israel and the United States.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam addressed the situation on Saturday, emphasizing that "the security of Beirut airport takes precedence over any other consideration." He reaffirmed that the safety of travelers and Lebanese citizens remained the government's top priority and that there would be no compromise on these principles.