USUP President Mrad prides President Aoun and LAF for defending Lebanese state sovereignty after Hezbollah supporters block airport road

TUR LEVNON/METN, Lebanon — Ibrahim Mrad, President of the Syriac Union Party in Lebanon reiterated his congratulations to the new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese Army for defending the country’s national sovereignty, which the axis of terrorism led by Iranian-backed Hezbollah tried to violate again. Mrad’s congratulations come following the recent blockade of Beirut Airport Road by Hezbollah supporters.

Mrad took to Facebook to condemn what he calls the “milieu of treason, terrorism, Captagon and smuggling.” He accuses this ‘milieu’ of continuing to use intimidation and coercion to dominate Lebanese institutions through assassinations and fear tactics.

A call to unite against threats

Mrad emphasized that the recent roadblocks, attacks on the Lebanese Army, and the attempt to seize full control of Rafic Hariri International Airport and its surroundings, along with false accusations labeling Syriac Maronite President Joseph Aoun as an agent of Israel, are part of a long and broader pattern. He noted that similar accusations were previously directed at all patriotic leaders fighting for Lebanon’s sovereignty and freedom.

The USUP President called on all Lebanese citizens to unite against what he described as a “broken and wounded milieu” that failed to fulfill the dream of its Iranian patron to subjugate Lebanon under Iranian rule. Mrad urged the Lebanese state to ban Hezbollah from all political activity and prosecute its leadership for betraying Lebanon as it is serving Iranian interests.

Additionally, he called for the temporary closure of Rafic Hariri International Airport and the reopening of Hamat and Qlayaat airports until the Lebanese state fully regains control over the security zones dominated by the terrorist militia Hezbollah.

Background: Hezbollah supporters block airport road and clash with UNIFIL forces

For the second consecutive day, members and supporters of Hezbollah continued to block the road leading to Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. The protests escalated into violent confrontations, culminating in an attack on UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.

According to Lebanese media, demonstrators assaulted Major General Aroldo Lázaro, the deputy head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission and injured two other UN personnel. The convoy carrying the UN delegation was also attacked, with vehicles being smashed and set ablaze as tensions flared near the airport.

The Lebanese army intervened in an effort to restore order, acknowledging in an official statement that riots and acts of aggression had erupted around the airport and in other parts of the city. The military urged protesters to desist, warning that continued unrest could further destabilize the already fragile situation in the country.

Meanwhile, the United Nations issued an advisory to its staff, instructing them to avoid the airport road following the attacks. The assault on UN personnel marks a significant escalation, raising concerns over the safety of international peacekeepers operating in Lebanon.

The unrest began on Thursday evening when dozens of Hezbollah supporters blocked the main entrance to the airport and the highway leading to it, burning tires in protest. The trigger for the demonstrations was a decision by Lebanese authorities to inform Iran’s Mahan Air that two scheduled flights from Tehran could not be accommodated.

The move, which local reports suggest was due to logistical complications, was met with swift backlash from Hezbollah loyalists, who viewed it as an unacceptable restriction on Iran’s access to Lebanon. The protests soon spiraled into violence, underscoring the volatile intersection of political tensions and international diplomacy in Beirut.