Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday (Oct 20) after Israel said it was preparing attacks on sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon's Hezbollah group.
"Residents of Lebanon, the IDF (Israeli military) will begin attacking infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association - get away from it immediately," the Israeli military's spokesperson said in a statement on X.
The warning came as part of Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s financial networks, which have allegedly been funding militant operations against Israeli targets amid the ongoing Gaza war escalation.
Soon after the Israeli warning, several blasts were heard and a large fire was seen in Beirut's southern suburbs, but reports haven't seen a direct link to the warning.
Al-Qard al-Hassan - which the US has said is an Iran-backed Hezbollah financial arm - has more than 30 branches across Lebanon, including 15 in densely populated parts of central Beirut and its suburbs.
Asked by journalists whether the branches could be considered military targets, a senior Israeli intelligence official said:
"The purpose of this strike is to target the ability of Hezbollah economic function both during the war but also afterwards to rebuild and to rearm ... on the day after.”
A City In Fear
Following past events, Israel’s words were taken with all seriousness. The announcement sent shockwaves through Beirut, especially in neighborhoods believed to be important to Hezbollah’s financial operations.
Many residents who were already struggling with the weight of Lebanon’s economic collapse and political instability, panicked, filled the streets and caused traffic jams in some parts of Beirut as they tried to get to neighborhoods thought to be safer.
Local reports indicated that people were scrambling to find refuge in safer parts of the country or attempting to cross into neighboring Syria to escape what they feared would be devastating attacks on their homes.
Lebanon, particularly Beirut, has been on edge since the outbreak of violence in Gaza, fearing that the conflict could spill over into their borders.
While the Lebanese government has urged calm, the involvement of Hezbollah in the conflict has placed the country in a precarious position, with civilians caught in the crossfire between Israel’s military actions and Hezbollah’s resistance efforts.
Hezbollah’s Financial Networks Under Scrutiny
Hezbollah, a powerful Shia militia and political group backed by Iran, has maintained a complicated network of financial operations that span from local businesses in Lebanon to international money-laundering schemes.
These financial links have long been a lifeline for Hezbollah’s military operations, allowing it to fund weapons purchases, recruitment, and its expansive social services programs that garner significant support among Lebanon’s Shia population.
Closing Note
The Israel Lebanon conflict has taken a new and dangerous turn, with Israel’s forces warning of impending strikes against Hezbollah's financial arm.
If the threat is carried out, Lebanon, a country already suffering from one of the worst economic crises in its history, with hyperinflation, widespread poverty, and political deadlock crippling the nation, could further be plunged into deeper crisis.
In the midst of this turmoil, Lebanese civilians continue to bear the brunt, facing both economic devastation and the ever-present threat of violence.