The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed the discovery of a hidden Hezbollah bunker containing millions of dollars in cash and gold. The claims were made during a televised briefing on Monday, where IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari declassified intelligence regarding Hezbollah’s financial operations located beneath a hospital in Beirut.
Hagari said that the Israeli Air Force executed a series of precise strikes targeting Hezbollah’s financial stronghold, Al-Qard Al-Hassan, urging Lebanese citizens to avoid areas near Hezbollah facilities. “Our strikes will degrade Hezbollah’s ability to finance its attacks on Israelis,” he said, adding that the significant underground vault was specifically designed to support Hezbollah’s operations against Israel.
According to Hagari, the bunker, believed to be directly beneath Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut, was intentionally constructed under a residential building, raising concerns about civilian safety. He emphasized that the IDF would refrain from targeting the hospital itself, stating, “We are not at war with the people of Lebanon. We are at war with Hezbollah.”
The IDF’s strikes late Sunday affected at least 15 branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley. Hagari highlighted that the organization violates international law and is sanctioned by the United States and other Western nations.
He further described Hezbollah’s financial structure, which reportedly relies on funds from the Iranian regime and contributions from the Lebanese people. Intelligence suggested that cash and gold are transferred through Syria and that Hezbollah operates factories in Lebanon and other countries to generate income.
Israel has announced intentions to conduct further strikes against Hezbollah’s infrastructure, with recent airstrikes leading to the displacement of over a million people in Lebanon. In retaliation, Hezbollah has been launching regular rocket attacks into Israel since the onset of renewed conflict following the Hamas raid in October of the previous year.