Beirut Bombings: Israel Targets Hezbollah’s Money Network

Israel/ Hezbollah/ Lebanon/ Beirut airstrikes/ al-Qard al-Hassan/ financial arm/ U.S. concerns/ civilian casualties/ war in Gaza/ Lebanese army/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel has launched airstrikes against Hezbollah’s financial network, particularly targeting the al-Qard al-Hassan unit in Beirut. This comes amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with civilian evacuations and heightened tensions across Lebanon. The U.S. has expressed concerns over rising casualties, urging caution in Israeli strikes.

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Financial Targets: Quick Looks

• Israel targets Hezbollah’s financial network, specifically the al-Qard al-Hassan unit.
• Beirut, Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon under evacuation orders.
• Israeli airstrikes near Beirut’s only airport as operations continue.
• Al-Qard al-Hassan provides financial services for Hezbollah and is sanctioned by the U.S.
• Israeli military continues ground operations in southern Lebanon amid rocket attacks from Hezbollah.
• Lebanon’s army remains largely sidelined in the escalating conflict.
• U.S. calls for restraint following high civilian casualties in Lebanon.

Beirut Bombings: Israel Targets Hezbollah’s Money Network

Deep Look:

Israel has escalated its offensive against Hezbollah, specifically targeting the group’s financial infrastructure in Lebanon. On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it would target al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-controlled unit responsible for handling the militant group’s financial operations. Within hours of the announcement, explosions rocked southern Beirut, particularly areas considered Hezbollah strongholds.

The airstrikes came after a series of warnings to civilians in southern Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and parts of southern Lebanon. Despite the strikes, Beirut’s only airport remained operational, though nearby areas were hit. Al-Qard al-Hassan, a nonprofit organization providing financial services to Hezbollah and ordinary Lebanese citizens, responded with a statement describing Israel’s actions as a sign of desperation. It also assured customers that their funds were safe, prompting some evacuation from the surrounding areas.

This nonprofit plays a crucial role in Hezbollah’s operations, particularly in paying its fighters and purchasing weapons. Its influence extends beyond the militant group, providing financial services to a Lebanese population struggling with the country’s economic collapse. The organization’s Arabic name translates to “the benevolent loan,” and it has solidified Hezbollah’s popularity among Lebanon’s Shiite population. However, it is also heavily sanctioned by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia due to its ties to Hezbollah.

David Asher, an expert on illicit financing, emphasized that Israel’s focus on al-Qard al-Hassan could severely disrupt Hezbollah’s financial operations. He suggested that targeting such cash-based institutions would turn their currency reserves into “trash.” Large Lebanese banks, already reeling from the country’s financial instability, could also be affected due to their accounts with the nonprofit.

One misstep during the evacuation process occurred when the Israeli military mistakenly labeled a target as the Grand Cinema ABC Verdun, a prominent theater in central Beirut. The incorrect designation, over 10 kilometers from the real target in southern Beirut, caused confusion and panic among the local population.

The escalation follows over a year of increased tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, mainly due to the war in Gaza. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has engaged in frequent cross-border skirmishes, which turned into a full-scale conflict in the past month. Israel deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon earlier this month, intensifying the situation further.

Just a day before the recent strikes, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to reduce civilian casualties, especially in densely populated areas like Beirut. The U.S. is increasingly concerned about the rising death toll in Lebanon, calling it “far too high.”

In addition to the strikes in Beirut, the Lebanese army reported that three of its soldiers were killed in an Israeli attack on their vehicle in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident but confirmed that it struck over 100 Hezbollah-related targets in the area. Hezbollah retaliated by launching over 170 rockets into Israel, injuring several people and causing a fire in the northern city of Safed.

Lebanon’s army has largely remained on the sidelines of the conflict, given its inability to challenge Hezbollah or defend the country against Israeli forces. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, reported that Israeli forces had destroyed part of a U.N. observation post. UNIFIL continues to resist pressure from Israel to vacate its positions.

Meanwhile, Iran’s involvement continues to loom over the conflict. According to U.S. officials, Israel may be preparing for a retaliatory strike against Iran following its ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this month. The U.S. is investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents detailing Israel’s military preparations.

In Gaza, the situation remains dire, with medics warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israeli airstrikes have devastated northern Gaza, killing at least 87 people in the latest round of attacks. The Health Ministry reported that another 40 people were wounded in overnight bombings. Despite calls for a ceasefire following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, neither side appears willing to negotiate.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by local health authorities. The war has displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s population, and more than a third of the hostages held by Hamas are believed to be dead. Israeli officials maintain that their operations are targeting Hamas militants, but the rising civilian casualties have drawn sharp criticism from international observers.

As the conflict intensifies, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Lebanon deepens, with international calls for restraint and peace negotiations continuing to be ignored by both sides.

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