BEIRUT

The Lebanese group Hezbollah called on the government on Sunday to reverse a decision to prevent Iranian planes from landing at Beirut airport.

Hezbollah supporters have staged protests outside Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut after the government refused to allow an Iranian plane to land at the airport on Thursday.

The move came after the Israeli army accused Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force of using the airport to smuggle funds for the Lebanese group under the guise of civilian flights.

“The popular sit-in organized by Hezbollah, in protest against Israel's overt interference in Lebanese affairs and violation of national sovereignty, was a peaceful and civil expression of public dissent against unjust external pressures,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

The group said protesters were attacked with tear gas canisters in what it called a “suspicious attempt to drag the army into a confrontation with its own people," calling for an investigation into the incident.

The group demanded the government “reverse its decision to prevent Iranian planes from landing at the airport and take serious measures to prevent Israeli interference and violations of national sovereignty.”

Hezbollah also condemned Friday’s attack on a convoy of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) near the airport.

On Saturday, Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar announced the arrest of 25 individuals following the attack that injured the UNIFIL deputy commander.