This could represent a major shift if the Lebanese military is ready to confront the Iranian money men funding Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities searched bags of an Iranian claimed to be covered by diplomatic immunity. The bags are claimed to contain millions in funding for Hezbollah. This appears to be a normal mule run that the US and Israel have been pressuring Lebanon about for some time. Now that Hezbollah is weakened, Lebanon acted. It will be interesting to see how this plays out Why would a physical transfer of funds be required? Lebanon seizes alleged Iranian cash transfer to Hezbollah from diplomat Lebanese authorities searched an Iranian commercial aircraft at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on January 2 following intelligence about an alleged attempt to transfer funds to Hezbollah, Lebanese officials said. Interior Minister Bassem Mawlawi confirmed the inspection of the Mahan Air flight in a statement, saying the aircraft was being searched 'bag by bag.' The airline has been under US sanctions since 2011 over alleged ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Al-Manar, an Iranian diplomat aboard the flight initially resisted inspection, claiming diplomatic immunity, before security forces intervened. Sources said the diplomat was temporarily detained after cash was discovered in his belongings, though the amount was not disclosed. Iran’s 19 Dey reported, “The intensive screening of Mahan Air passengers took place after Saudi television channel Al-Hadath claimed on Thursday afternoon, citing Western sources, that “Iran intends to transfer millions of dollars to Hezbollah via a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Beirut.” An informed source at the Iranian embassy in Lebanon provided details to Tasnim News Agency, stating the incident occurred under pressure from the US and Israel, with authorities suspecting money transfers. The source said inspections revealed nothing suspicious.
says they confiscated the contents and they let the bags in Iranian delegation attempts to bar plane from being searched in Beirut Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath reported, citing Western sources, that the Islamic Republic was planning on transferring millions of dollars to Hezbollah on Thursday via an Air Mahan flight from Tehran to the Lebanese capital. According to the Lebanese publication, one of the delegation members refused to have his bag searched. The Lebanese authorities ultimately confiscated the contents of the bag. Two bags, which the Iranian embassy in Beirut said were diplomatic bags containing documents and sums intended for its embassy in Lebanon, were reportedly allowed into the country. An-Nahar further noted that the plane was subsequently searched. However, nothing was found on it.
