Lebanese authorities on Thursday barred two Iranian planes from landing at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, sparking protests by Hezbollah supporters who blocked the main road to the airport and set tires ablaze. 

The decision to deny entry to the Iranian flights was made by Lebanon’s Public Works and Transportation Ministry, an airport official confirmed to AFP. One flight was scheduled for Thursday and another for Friday, but both were canceled. 

Hezbollah-affiliated MP Ibrahim Moussawi condemned the move in a statement to Al-Manar TV, claiming the planes were denied landing due to “an Israeli threat” to target them. Some reports from Reuters suggested that authorities feared the flights were carrying funds intended for Hezbollah, a group widely accused by Western nations of undermining Lebanese sovereignty.

The Israeli army alleged in a statement on Wednesday that Iran’s Quds Force has been using civilian flights to smuggle money to Hezbollah. Israel stated it has been providing intelligence to a U.S.-led committee overseeing the ceasefire to thwart such operations.

This latest decision follows increased security measures on flights arriving from Iran and Iraq. In January, Lebanese authorities subjected an Iranian plane carrying a diplomatic delegation to an extensive inspection, triggering outrage from Hezbollah and its supporters but drawing approval from its opponents.

Israel has long accused Hezbollah of using Lebanon’s only international airport for smuggling operations. However, the Lebanese government has recently reinforced surveillance and inspection procedures at the facility, signaling a tougher stance on security.

Meanwhile, Lebanese daily Annahar reported that dozens of Lebanese passengers were left stranded at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport after their flight was canceled. 

In response to Middle East Airlines’ request for permission to land two of its planes at Tehran Airport to bring back the stranded passengers, Iranian civil aviation authorities stated that such a request must be submitted through the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the protocols between the two countries.

The Lebanese ambassador to Iran is coordinating the process, noting that Friday is a public holiday in Iran. The Lebanese embassy in Tehran has received the airline’s request, and the ambassador is preparing an official letter to send to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry must grant authorization and forward it to Iranian aviation authorities, who will then allow the two MEA planes to land.