According to an exclusive report by Voice of America, Hezbollah is facing serious financial difficulties as a result of Israeli military action targeting its funding sources.
The findings on Lebanese terrorist organizations’ financial struggles, along with a purported U.S. Treasury report, came after conversations between the U.S. and Lebanon-based researchers, a VOA report on Friday said. .
The findings reportedly identified Hezbollah’s main source of income as coming from the Lebanese banking institution Al-Qaad Al-Hasan (AQAH).
According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Intelligence Center, AQAH “has grown into a major agency with branches in Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold of Dahiyeh and other Hezbollah-controlled areas in Lebanon,” the report said.
The researchers also said Hezbollah had other sources of funding through licensed commercial banks in Lebanon and “cash-laden” planes arriving at Beirut’s airport, according to the report. Clothes are hung on damaged buildings in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, on October 13, 2024, as fighting continues between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in what security officials said was an Israeli attack on a commercial market. are. (Credit: Reuters/Mohammed Yasin)
VOA’s report on Hezbollah’s funding shortfall was published after Israel reportedly escalated attacks on the terrorist organization’s assets, including airstrikes on AQAH branches, causing significant damage.
According to the report, AQAH has operated as a major financial institution since its establishment in 1982 and has grown into a major source of funding for Hezbollah’s activities.
“Very serious financial problems”
“Hezbollah is facing very serious financial problems. It cannot pay salaries to ordinary members who have fled their homes and have to support their families,” said Hilal Kashan, a Lebanese political science professor.
Furthermore, Lebanon’s finances are under strain due to the loss of access to the banking system. Many of Lebanon’s wealthiest bankers who may have facilitated Hezbollah’s money laundering operations have fled the country, fearing Israeli retaliation, according to the report.
Former U.S. official David Asher said, “Lebanese bankers, most of them billionaires, see the winds blowing against Hezbollah, and that Hezbollah is losing millions of dollars from their banks.” I have no intention of bringing this out,” he said.
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“What we are hearing from Lebanese bankers, including Hezbollah financiers, is that the wealthiest Lebanese bankers who can afford to fly are afraid that they will be targeted next by Israel for supporting Hezbollah. They fled to Europe and the Gulf,” Asher said.
“We have heard from Israeli sources that Iranians are now afraid to send money to Lebanon because Israel is threatening to target Beirut flights. “We have warned that they will also target loaded planes,” he added.
Additionally, the report noted that planes transporting cash from Iran to Hezbollah were disrupted by increased Israeli air patrols over Beirut’s airport. Israel warned it would target flights suspected of carrying cash or weapons.
But despite Hezbollah’s alleged financial setbacks, the group appears determined to fight.
“Continuing the fight depends on the availability of food and ammunition. If the fight is motivated by religious zeal, we need to worry about more fundamental issues than the availability of cash. “There are,” Casshern said in the report.
As for the Lebanese government’s role, it has begun tightening controls over Beirut’s airport and cargo transport, inspecting flights to ensure compliance with Lebanese laws and preventing the smuggling of cash and weapons to Hezbollah, the report said. pointed out.