Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror proxy, has been discovered by Israeli military officials to be hiding $500 million in gold and cash in a secret bunker located under a hospital in Beruit. The bunker was said to be previously run by the group’s deceased leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed during an Israeli airstrike in September. The Israeli Air Force has been monitoring the vault beneath the al-Sahel hospital, but there are no immediate plans to target it. The IDF released a video showing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar fleeing into a tunnel with his family before an attack on October 7th.
The bunker under the hospital is reported to be filled with beds and rooms used for long stays and space for directing operations. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari of the Israel Defense Forces stated that the bunker holds more than half a billion dollars in cash and gold that could have been used for the rehabilitation of Lebanon instead of benefiting Hezbollah. He urged Lebanese officials to rein in Hezbollah and inspect the site to prevent the money from being used for terrorist activities. The director of the hospital reportedly said the facility was being evacuated due to its proximity to Hezbollah facilities that may become targets for the Israeli army in the future.
The IDF has accused Hezbollah, as well as Hamas, of hiding weapons and housing terrorist fighters in sensitive locations such as hospitals and schools. Hagari also detailed how Iran transfers money to Hezbollah and other ways the terror group finances its operations. Al-Qard Al-Hasan, Hezbollah’s financial arm, provides financial services to Lebanese civilians and pays the salaries of Hezbollah operatives. Iran’s Quds Force transfers money to Hezbollah from Iranian oil sold in Syria and sends cash and gold by plane to the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, which then distributes the funds directly to Hezbollah.
Israel has targeted Hezbollah in recent weeks after a year of Hezbollah strikes launched towards Israel’s north, leading to many in the area fleeing. Despite monitoring the bunker containing the large sum of money and gold belonging to Hezbollah, the Israeli Air Force had not made plans to target the structure yet. The IDF has been urging Lebanese officials to prevent Hezbollah from using the money for terror activities against Israel. The revelation of Hezbollah’s financial operations sheds light on how the group is able to sustain its terrorist operations with the support of Iran. It highlights the role of Iran in funding Hezbollah and the need for international organizations to take action to prevent financing of terror groups.
In conclusion, the discovery of the secret bunker containing half a billion dollars in gold and cash under a hospital in Beirut sheds light on Hezbollah’s financial operations and its connection to Iran. The IDF’s monitoring of the site underscores the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the terror group being accused of using sensitive locations to hide weapons and fighters. The revelation of Iran’s role in funding Hezbollah through various channels raises concerns about the financing of terror groups. This situation highlights the need for international cooperation to prevent the financing of terrorism and hold accountable those who support terrorist activities.
