On Sunday, Israel’s military revealed plans to target the financial sector of Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group, with intentions to strike multiple locations in Beirut and other regions. Subsequently, explosions were reported in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Evacuation notices were issued for areas including southern Beirut, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and parts of southern Lebanon. The military operations are aimed at al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-affiliated organization responsible for funding the group and acquiring arms, as disclosed by a senior Israeli intelligence official under the condition of anonymity.
The nonprofit al-Qard al-Hassan, which provides financial services and has been sanctioned by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, is utilized by ordinary Lebanese citizens and supports Hezbollah’s influence among the Shiite community amid Lebanon’s recent institutional failures. Expert on illicit financing, David Asher, indicated that these attacks could severely impact the organization’s liquidity.
In response to the targeting, al-Qard al-Hassan labeled Israel’s actions as an indication of its “bankruptcy” and reassured its customers about protective measures for their funds. Evacuees were noted in the vicinity of its Beirut branches.
An error in the evacuation notice inaccurately identified a target in the Choueifat area, which led to confusion and concern. The mistaken target was identified as the Grand Cinema ABC Verdun, a location far from the Choueifat area.
The background to these developments includes heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah over the previous year, culminating in full-scale conflict after Israel deployed ground troops into Lebanon earlier this month. This escalation follows U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s statement urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties and limit strikes, especially around Beirut.
The Lebanese army reported that three of its soldiers were killed by an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, although there was no immediate comment from Israel’s military, which indicated it had hit over 100 Hezbollah targets recently. The Lebanese army, largely remaining neutral in the conflict, lacks the strength to effectively counter Hezbollah or a potential Israeli invasion.
On the initial day of this report, over 170 rockets were fired at Israel by Hezbollah, injuring three people lightly in a rocket-induced fire in Safed, Northern Israel. The United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, revealed that Israeli forces deliberately destroyed parts of a U.N. position in southern Lebanon but resisted orders to vacate.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, is central to ongoing regional tensions, with the U.S. currently investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents about military movements following Iran’s missile attack on October 1st, 2024.
In a separate conflict, Israeli strikes in northern Gaza resulted in 87 people either dead or missing, as per the territory’s Health Ministry, amid operations against regrouping Hamas militants. Israeli military tactics included utilizing precise munitions against a Hamas target, reportedly killing civilians including parents and children.
Efforts to urge for a ceasefire in Gaza have followed the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, despite dwindling interest in negotiations on both sides. In central Gaza, a strike in Deir al-Balah killed six, including a child. Amid deteriorating conditions, Doctors Without Borders has called for cessation in hospital attacks.
Communication disruptions have exacerbated rescue operations in Gaza, which has seen mass evacuations advised by Israel. The conflict traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led forces breached Israeli defenses, leading to significant casualties and hostages. Consequently, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in thousands of Palestinian casualties and considerable destruction, displacing most of the region’s population.
