Man caught with $2.5 million arrested at Beirut Airport

On Friday morning, authorities at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport apprehended a man identified as Mohammad H. upon his arrival on a Turkish Pegasus Airlines flight. During a routine inspection, officials discovered $2.5 million in cash concealed within his luggage. This significant seizure has prompted an intensive investigation to determine the origin of the funds and their intended destination.

Preliminary reports suggest that the confiscated money was earmarked for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group. This incident aligns with longstanding allegations from Israel, which asserts that Iranian operatives and Turkish nationals have been covertly funneling money from Tehran and Istanbul into Beirut to bolster Hezbollah’s activities.

In response to these concerns, Lebanese authorities have taken decisive action by indefinitely suspending all flights to and from Iran. This measure follows warnings from the United States, a key mediator in the November 27 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, indicating that Israel might target aircraft suspected of transporting illicit funds or weapons to Hezbollah. The Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation has stated that this suspension is a precautionary step to ensure the safety of air travel and to prevent potential escalations.

The flight ban has ignited significant unrest among Hezbollah supporters. Protesters have obstructed the main access road to Beirut’s sole international airport, leading to clashes with security forces. Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has publicly condemned the government’s decision, accusing it of capitulating to Israeli demands and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty.