Israel says it will attack Hezbollah’s financial arm ‘all over Lebanon’
2024-10-20
Hezbollah's Financial Arm Targeted: Israel Strikes Beirut Amid Escalating Tensions
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israel's military has announced that it is now targeting Hezbollah's financial arm, Al-Qard al-Hassan, in a series of strikes across Lebanon. The announcement came as explosions were reported in Beirut's southern suburbs, prompting evacuation warnings in the area.
Israel's military has declared that it will attack a "large number of targets" in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with a focus on the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Qard al-Hassan organization. This registered nonprofit, sanctioned by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, has been used by the Iran-backed militant group to provide financial services and support its operations, including the procurement of arms.According to a senior Israeli intelligence official, the strikes will aim to disrupt Al-Qard al-Hassan's cash-based operations, which have been used to entrench Hezbollah's influence among the Shiite population in Lebanon. The official stated that the organization has large accounts with major Lebanese banks, making it a critical target in Israel's efforts to undermine Hezbollah's financial capabilities.
Evacuation Warnings and Confusion
The announcement of the strikes on Al-Qard al-Hassan has led to evacuation warnings in southern Beirut, the eastern Bekaa valley, and parts of southern Lebanon. However, in one instance, the Israeli military mislabeled a target, causing confusion and panic among the local population. The location was incorrectly identified as the Grand Cinema ABC Verdun, a theater in an upscale shopping mall in central Beirut, more than 10 kilometers away from the actual target.
Escalating Tensions and Cross-Border Clashes
The latest developments come amid a year of escalating tensions and frequent cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, stemming from the ongoing war in Gaza. The situation has now turned into an all-out war, with Israel sending ground troops into Lebanon earlier this month.The U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has expressed concern over the high number of civilian casualties in Lebanon, urging Israel to scale back some of its strikes, particularly in and around Beirut. However, Israel has continued to increase its strikes on the southern neighborhoods of Beirut, known as the Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
The Role of the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL
The Lebanese army has largely kept to the sidelines in the ongoing conflict, despite being a respected institution in the country. The military, however, lacks the power to impose its will on Hezbollah or defend the country from an Israeli invasion.Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping mission UNIFIL has reported that Israeli forces "deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a U.N. position" in southern Lebanon, further escalating the tensions in the region.
Iran's Involvement and the Threat of Retaliation
Iran, which supports the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, is also under scrutiny. The United States is investigating an unauthorized release of classified documents indicating that Israel was moving military assets into place for a potential strike in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1.As the conflict continues to unfold, the situation remains volatile, with both sides showing little interest in a ceasefire. The targeting of Hezbollah's financial arm by Israel is a significant escalation, and the potential for further retaliation and escalation remains a pressing concern.
