A security source told Agence France-Presse that "the United States warned Lebanon that Israel would target the airport if the Iranian plane arrived last Thursday."

The source added, "The Lebanese authorities considered that the solution was for the plane not to land to avoid the airport being bombed," explaining that "following the threat, Minister of Public Works Fayez Rasamny requested to prevent its arrival and inform it of the decision before it took off from Iran."

The source also noted that a second flight, scheduled for Friday from Tehran, was canceled for the same reasons. He added, "Lebanese security is enforcing strict inspections on Iranian flights."