ALBAWABA - Lebanon's Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport now features the US flag on the ground alongside what seems to be the Israeli flag, for people to step on it, sparking outrage among American politicians on social media.
This comes amid the arrival of Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi who landed in Beirut to attend the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine. In addition to Araghchi, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf will also attend the funeral.
The photo circulating across social media showcased the US flag on the ground in the arrivals or departures sections of the airport as people were seen waiting alongside the barriers placed. Several US politicians took to Musk's X (formerly known as Twitter) deeming the gesture as disrespectful to the country.
US flag on the ground at Lebanon's Beirut airport sparks outrage ahead of Nasrallah funeral
US Representative Joe Wilson wrote, "Lebanon’s Beirut airport now features an American flag for people to step on, showing disrespect. Since 2006, America has provided $3 billion in military aid to Lebanon. We must put America First."
A Lebanese social media user claimed that it's Hezbollah that placed the US flag on the airport's floor and wrote, "As a Lebanese myself, it's the members of Hezbollah who placed this US flag on the ground. Most Lebanese are thankful for the support from the United States. Lebanon doesn't condone this message of hate towards the United States. It has been removed since then."
Five months ago, Israel targeted Hezbollah and its former leader Hasan Nasrallah by dropping over 80 bombs on Southern Lebanon. Nasrallah died inside one of the military group's main operations rooms.
Nasrallah was considered one of the most prominent figures of Hezbollah since he was the group’s leader for over 30 years and one of its founders.
