Israel’s military has announced plans to target Hezbollah’s financial arm, specifically the al-Qard al-Hassan group, which funds Hezbollah’s operations. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated that strikes would soon begin in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with evacuation warnings issued to civilians near targeted areas.
These attacks are part of a broader strategy to dismantle Hezbollah’s financial network, which also serves as a nonprofit financial service for ordinary Lebanese. While the specific scope of these warnings is unclear, the strikes are set to affect a wide range of targets.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating, with both sides engaging in increasingly intense military action. The conflict intensified in the past month, turning into all-out war, and Israeli ground troops entered Lebanon earlier this month.
Israel’s decision to escalate its strikes in Lebanon comes amid international concerns about rising civilian casualties, particularly in Beirut. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently expressed concern about the high number of civilian deaths, urging Israel to reduce its strikes in urban areas.
Hezbollah’s Financial Arm Set to Be Targeted by Israel as Military Escalation Grows
Hezbollah has retaliated by launching over 170 rockets into Israel, targeting cities in the north, including Safed, where some injuries were reported. Meanwhile, Israel has focused its attacks on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and residential areas of Beirut where the group is active.
Lebanese military forces, which are highly respected but weaker than Hezbollah, have largely stayed out of the fighting, though three soldiers were reportedly killed by an Israeli strike on Sunday.
In parallel, the conflict in Gaza continues to rage, with Israeli forces striking multiple Hamas targets in the northern Gaza Strip. The strikes have resulted in heavy casualties, with at least 87 people reported dead or missing in Beit Lahiya.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened as medical facilities are overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, and international organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have called on Israel to stop its attacks on hospitals. Israel, however, maintains that it is targeting Hamas fighters and not civilians.
The war in Gaza and northern Israel is entering a particularly destructive phase, with massive civilian displacement and high death tolls on both sides. In Gaza, around 400,000 people remain in the northern part of the strip despite Israel’s calls for evacuation.
The Israeli offensive has been relentless since Hamas launched an attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages. The humanitarian toll continues to mount, with more than 42,000 Palestinians killed and vast areas of Gaza destroyed.
