VIDEO: Iran’s parliament speaker pilots aircraft and lands at Beirut airport amid Israeli bombings
- 13 Oct 2024
Gulf Today Report
Muhammad Baqar Qalibaf, the Head of Iranian Parliament, piloted a plane and landed the Iranian delegation at Beirut airport all by himself amid Israeli bombing and restrictions of entry for Iranian planes.
Qalibaf is a licensed pilot for commercial and military planes, the former chief of the IRGC Aerospace and missile Forces, and a close figure to late General Qasem Soleimani and IRGC Quds force.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament on Saturday toured the scene of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed and wounded dozens, vowing that Tehran would keep supporting Lebanese and Palestinians in fighting against Israel.
Qalibaf visited the bombed area after holding talks with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who said that Lebanon’s priority now was working toward a ceasefire.
His office said that Lebanon’s government still abides by a 2006 UN Security Council Resolution approved at the end of a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah and was prepared to boost Lebanese army presence along the country’s border with Israel.
"We will keep standing with the Lebanese people during these difficult circumstances and also with the Palestinian people,” Qalibaf said during the tour, during which he was escorted by several Hizbollah officials.
Qalibaf added that Iran will aid the Lebanese people and "we hope that they will be victorious.”
It was the second recent visit by an Iranian official to Beirut after the foreign minister visited earlier this month. Iran is a main backer of Hizbollah that has suffered major setbacks in recent weeks, including the killing of it leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Hizbollah started attacking Israeli army posts in October last year in solidarity with the Hamas group in Gaza. Since Sept. 23, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and forced the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese. Last week, Israel began a ground invasion of Lebanon, leading to clashes along the border with Hizbollah fighters.
