by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel’s strike on branches of a Hezbollah-linked bank intensified efforts to dismantle the financial and social networks sustaining the terrorist group’s control over Lebanon. Israel also revealed that former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker, hidden beneath a hospital in Beirut’s Dahieh district, contains gold and $500 million in cash, which it aims to redirect Hezbollah’s hidden funds to aid in Lebanon’s reconstruction.
The IDF revealed that Sunday’s Operation Robin Hood targeted nearly 30 Hezbollah financial centers across Lebanon. For years, Hezbollah has operated a shadow financial network heavily funded by Iran.
The IDF announced it has continued striking Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, hitting around 300 targets within the past 24 hours. On Sunday, Israel targeted branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH), a financial firm registered as a charity but accused by Israel of profiting from Lebanese civilians to fund Hezbollah.
The U.S. has long sanctioned AQAH, alleging it serves as a front for Hezbollah’s financial activities and provides access to the global financial system.
“The Israeli Air Force carried out a series of precise strikes on these Hezbollah financial strongholds,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari announced Monday evening.
Hagari accused Hezbollah of exploiting Lebanon’s financial crisis, with its income heavily reliant on Iranian funding and local civilians. He detailed how Hezbollah moves cash through Syria, including sending “suitcases of cash and gold” to Iran’s embassy in Beirut, and operates factories in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Turkey to finance terrorist operations.
“This Iranian money is not only used to kill Israelis but also threatens Lebanon’s economy. As Hezbollah smuggles Iranian dollars into the country, it devalues the Lebanese pound, worsening Lebanon’s economic crisis,” he explained.
“One of our main targets last night was an underground vault with tens of millions of dollars in cash and gold. The money was being used to finance Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel,” Hagari added.
However, Hagari also disclosed the location of another bunker that the IAF chose not to strike due to its position beneath Al-Sahel Hospital.
“Tonight, I am declassifying intelligence on a site we did not target – a bunker holding millions of dollars in gold and cash, belonging to Hassan Nasrallah. Where is it located? Directly under Al-Sahel Hospital in the heart of Beirut,” Hagari revealed.
Highlighting Lebanon’s ongoing financial crisis, Hagari emphasized that the funds in the bunker should be used to rebuild the country.
“According to the estimates we have, there is at least half a billion dollars in dollar bills and gold stored in this bunker,” he said. “This money could and still can be used to rebuild the state of Lebanon.”
“There are hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold inside the bunker right now,” Hagari continued. “I’m calling on the Lebanese government, Lebanese authorities, and the international organizations, don’t – don’t – allow Hezbollah to use the money for terror and to attack Israel.”
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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