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US embassy in Beirut blocks Iraq-Lebanon humanitarian air bridge

Saturday, 02 November 2024 7:13 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 02 November 2024 7:13 PM ]

In this file picture, an Iraqi Airways plane is seen parked at the Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. (Photo by Reuters)

The US embassy in Beirut has blocked the establishment of a humanitarian air bridge between Iraq and Lebanon, insisting that any consignment of humanitarian aid destined for those displaced as a result of the ongoing Israeli military offensive must be delivered via Jordan “for inspection first.”

According to a report by the Lebanese Al Akhbar Arabic-language newspaper, Washington reportedly also threatened to slap sanctions against Lebanon's flag carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), if its planes were used to transport those wounded by the explosion of thousands of handheld pagers and walkie-talkies in terror attacks by Israel.

Furthermore, the US embassy in Lebanon receives a “daily manifesto” of all passengers traveling through Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Iraq became one of the top providers of humanitarian aid via land to Lebanon since the Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon at the start of October.

Nevertheless, Israel's destruction of the main road linking Lebanon to Syria has hampered those efforts.

Al Akhbar reported that the US embassy is behind “mysterious” road works in the coastal Dbayeh area north of Beirut, noting that the development comes as Washington continues to meddle in Beirut's internal politics.

Lebanon PM says Israel ‘rejecting efforts made to secure ceasefire’

Lebanon says the Israeli Prime Minister has rejected his country’s ceasefire proposal.

“[Bulldozers] began at the beginning of the aggression to open a passage between the sea road adjacent to the [Lebanese Armed Forces'] Al-Fuhoud barracks in Dbayeh and the sea … After some residents became suspicious of these works and asked the army about their nature, the military institution denied any knowledge of the matter,” the report read.

Lebanon's Ministry of Public Works and Transport has denied any knowledge about the construction, which the daily newspaper says is being undertaken at the request of the US embassy under the “implicit approval” of the Lebanese army's command to allegedly “prepare for the evacuation” of American citizens.

Last month, local media reported that the US embassy in Lebanon has been in talks with their local allies to ignite an “internal uprising” that would help the Tel Aviv regime achieve its war goals.

At least 71 people were killed and 169 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Friday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The total number of deaths from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October 2023 now stands at 2,968, with 13,319 people wounded.

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