Explosions heard across Beirut after Israel warned it would hit a Hezbollah-linked financial group | Hezbollah

Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes on Sunday evening as explosions were heard in the southern suburbs after the Israeli military said it was preparing attacks on branches of a Hezbollah-linked banking system, in a further escalation of Israel's nearly months-long war against the represents a militant group.

Reuters witnesses saw thick clouds of black smoke billowing into the air after at least 10 explosions in the Lebanese capital. Witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a building in the Chiyah neighborhood of the southern suburbs was reduced to rubble and the few people in the area fled the blast, resulting in no injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had warned people to immediately leave areas associated with the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, a US-sanctioned financial organization with more than 30 branches across Lebanon, including 15 in Lebanon populated parts of central Beirut and its suburbs.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported eleven attacks in southern Beirut, many of them against Al-Qard Al-Hassan. Further attacks hit the association in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and in the south of the country, NNA added.

A strike was also reported to have landed near Beirut airport, the main humanitarian entry point for the country and a key evacuation hub for those fleeing the conflict. AFP footage showed large plumes of smoke rising near the facility.

There was no immediate information about the cause of the explosions or details of any casualties. Panicked crowds clogged streets and caused traffic jams in some parts of Beirut as they tried to get to neighborhoods considered safer, witnesses told Reuters.

The US says Al-Qard al-Hassan is used by Iran-backed Hezbollah to manage its finances. It provides loans and services primarily to people who live in areas where the militia group is popular.

IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said on

He accused the association of being involved in “financing the terrorist activities of the Hezbollah organization against Israel, which is why the IDF decided to attack this terrorist infrastructure.”

Asked by journalists whether the branches could be considered military targets, a senior Israeli intelligence official said: “The purpose of this attack is to impair Hezbollah's economic viability, both during the war and afterward, to rebuild and rearm… on this day.” after.”

The U.S. Treasury Department said in 2021, in preparing sanctions against Hezbollah's financial network, that Al-Qard Al-Hassan “purports to serve the Lebanese people” but in practice “moves funds illegally through bogus accounts and intermediaries.” reported the New York Times.

According to the Times, Al-Qard al-Hasan said in a statement on Sunday that Israel had “exhausted its objectives” and decided to threaten and target the nonprofit organization Al-Qard al-Hasan.

Israel has stepped up military operations in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, just days after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar raised hopes of opening ceasefire negotiations to end more than a year-long conflict.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on Sunday that the military was increasing attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, destroying sites the group wanted to “use as launching pads for attacks against Israel.”

About 70 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel within minutes on Sunday, the military said, adding that it intercepted some of them.

Separately, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (Unifil) said on Sunday evening that an Israeli army bulldozer had deliberately destroyed an observation tower and a perimeter fence at its position in Marwahin, southern Lebanon.

Unifil said in a statement: “We once again remind the IDF and all actors of their obligation to ensure the security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.”

Meanwhile, world powers await Israel's retaliation against Iranian attacks on the Jewish state on October 1, launched in support of Lebanese ally Tehran. Late Friday it emerged that top-secret US documents purporting to reveal details of Israel's attack plans against Iran had been leaked and published online.

With Agence France-Presse and Reuters