Israel Discovers $550 Million Hezbollah Bunker Beneath Hospital: Shocking Revelations!

Israel has uncovered a bunker beneath Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut, containing approximately $550 million in cash and gold linked to Hezbollah’s operations. The Israeli military has conducted targeted airstrikes on Al-Qard Al-Hassan branches, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah’s financial network. As tensions escalate, these actions reflect Israel’s strategy to weaken Hezbollah’s funding sources amid ongoing conflict.

CONTENTS:

• Israel discovers Hezbollah’s financial bunker
• Israel targets Al-Qard Al-Hassan branches

Israel Discovers $550 Million Hezbollah Bunker Beneath Hospital: Shocking Revelations!

Israel discovers Hezbollah’s financial bunker

Israel Discovers $550 Million Hezbollah Bunker Beneath Hospital: Shocking Revelations!  In a recent development in the conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has announced the discovery of a significant financial reserve hidden in a “secret” bunker beneath Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut. The Israeli military, represented by Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, revealed during a televised briefing that this bunker reportedly contained around $500 million in cash and gold intended to support Hezbollah’s operations. Hagari stated that this bunker, built by Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah—who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month—was not struck due to its location beneath a medical facility.

The Israeli military has been conducting a series of targeted airstrikes, reportedly hitting nearly 30 Hezbollah-associated sites, including financial centers run by Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH), which is accused of being a front for Hezbollah’s financial activities despite being registered as a charity. According to Hagari, the funds in the bunker could potentially aid in the rebuilding of Lebanon if recovered.

This action is part of Israel’s broader strategy to undermine Hezbollah’s financial resources. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi mentioned that over 300 strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon occurred within a 24-hour span, focusing on critical financial and logistical targets.

One significant target was an underground vault believed to contain tens of millions in cash and gold, allegedly funding attacks on Israel. Although it’s uncertain if all the funds were destroyed in the strikes, Israeli officials have indicated that further airstrikes may occur as they continue to locate Hezbollah’s financial strongholds. Tensions have escalated between Hezbollah and Israel since the group began launching attacks in support of Hamas after the October 7, 2023, attacks, with Israeli estimates suggesting around 2,000 Hezbollah fighters have died since hostilities intensified in September 2023. Hezbollah has retaliated with rocket attacks on Israeli towns and military installations, including a recent strike targeting an intelligence base near Tel Aviv.

Israel targets Al-Qard Al-Hassan branches

Israel Discovers $550 Million Hezbollah Bunker Beneath Hospital: Shocking Revelations!  Founded in 1983, Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which means “the benevolent loan,” presents itself as a charitable organization operating under Islamic finance principles that prohibit interest. Its mission is to provide interest-free loans, primarily to Lebanon’s Shiite population, especially those aligned with Hezbollah. The institution offers loans against collateral such as gold or jewelry, providing essential financial support to a Lebanese community grappling with a struggling economy.

Recently, Israel targeted branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH) with precision airstrikes, striking at least 11 locations across Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley—areas known to be Hezbollah strongholds. These attacks, which occurred late Sunday night into Monday morning, are part of Israel’s broader campaign to undermine Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure and diminish its operational funding.

AQAH operates around 30 branches throughout Lebanon, many situated in Hezbollah-controlled regions of Beirut. Its influence increased significantly following Lebanon’s financial collapse in 2019, as traditional banks restricted access to savings. In contrast, AQAH continued to allow cash withdrawals, often in hard currency, when other banks could not provide access. The organization functions under a license from the Lebanese government, but the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned AQAH in 2007, accusing it of acting as Hezbollah’s financial arm.

US officials argue that while AQAH serves the Shiite community, it also facilitates Hezbollah’s access to the international financial system through shell accounts, despite sanctions aimed at cutting off the group’s resources. Hezbollah has historically relied on hawala networks and various financial mechanisms to maintain support among Lebanon’s Shiite population, making AQAH a critical component of its strategy.

Israel Discovers $550 Million Hezbollah Bunker Beneath Hospital: Shocking Revelations! In Lebanon, hawala systems operate as informal money-exchange houses that handle significant sums. Many Lebanese, particularly those who support Hezbollah, depend on AQAH for hard currency loans, often using collateral like jewelry or gold. Average loans typically do not exceed $5,000 but serve as vital support for covering expenses such as weddings, education, or starting small businesses. In recent years, Hezbollah has encouraged all Lebanese, regardless of sect or political affiliation, to utilize AQAH’s services, promoting it as an alternative to the traditional banking system, which has faced severe challenges since the 2019 economic crisis.

Hezbollah’s leadership has openly acknowledged the group’s reliance on AQAH for financial backing. After the organization was hacked in 2020, resulting in a leak of client information, former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah publicly defended AQAH. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that one of the strikes targeted a vault beneath a hospital in Beirut, allegedly containing $550 million intended to support Hezbollah’s military activities. Israeli defense officials have claimed that AQAH is responsible for safeguarding as much as $750 million annually in Iranian funding, alongside revenues from Hezbollah’s various illicit activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering.