Israeli airstrikes targeted three branches of a Hezbollah-linked financial institution in Beirut on Sunday evening, as reported by Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The strikes hit Al-Qard Al-Hassan branches in the Hay Al-Sellom, Burj Al-Barajneh, and Ghobeiry areas of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The news agency also mentioned that evacuations were taking place in Hermel, with buildings near an Al-Qard Al-Hassan branch being cleared. Additionally, the Baalbek Government Hospital in the Beqaa region relocated patients to safer rooms further away from a building associated with the financial institution across the street, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The ministry confirmed that the hospital is operating normally despite the situation.
Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces had issued warnings of planned strikes on locations belonging to the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association to disrupt Hezbollah’s access to financial resources. Subsequently, evacuation alerts were issued for parts of Beirut, as well as several other areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.
Established in 1983, Al-Qard Al-Hassan is a nonprofit financial institution connected to Hezbollah that offers interest-free loans following Islamic lending principles to the Shia community. Israel alleges that Hezbollah utilizes the organization to pay salaries to its members and provide assistance to civilians while circumventing sanctions.
