Israel to begin striking buildings belonging to Hezbollah-run banking system al-Qard al-Hassan William Christou Israel’s military announced on Sunday night that it will begin striking buildings belonging to al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-run banking system that provides loans and banking services primarily to people who live in areas where Hezbollah is popular. Israel said that the institution finances Hezbollah and that “Hezbollah uses this money to finance its terrorist activities,” including purchasing and storing arms. Founded in the 1980s, al-Qard al-Hassan provides interest free loans in line with Islamic banking principles. After Lebanon’s 2019 banking crisis which saw commercial banks freeze accounts, al-Qard al-Hassan became more popular in Lebanon, as it gives collateral-based loans on personal assets such as loans. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese bank with al-Qard al-Hassan, primarily in areas where Hezbollah is popular, but last year the bank even opened a branch in a Christian town in Hezbollah. The bank has branches all over the country, with at least 15 branches in Beirut alone. The institution was sanctioned by the US in 2017 during the Trump administration due to the fact that it gave Hezbollah access to the international financial system, according to the US Treasury. Al-Qard al-Hassan is a branch of Hezbollah’s robust social services network. Analysts have said that the group’s social services are key to its popularity, with a network of hospitals, schools and ambulance corps serving areas where state investment has traditionally been low. Human rights organisations have said that affiliation with Hezbollah does not make civilian institutions legitimate military targets. Over the past year, Israel has killed dozens of medics and first responders who work in the Islamic Health Committee, a Hezbollah-affiliated health service Israeli strikes landed near Lebanon’s only airport, Agence France-Presse reports. AFP cited a security source saying that two strikes landed close to the airport in Beirut as Israel attacked the capital’s southern suburbs after issuing multiple evacuation orders. Videos emerging on social media are showing buildings being leveled and fires starting across Beirut as Israel strikes Lebanon’s capital: Here is more from Reuters on the scenes from Beirut as residents flee amid Israeli airstrikes on the capital: Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday after Israel said it was preparing attacks on sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group within hours and told people to leave those areas immediately. Soon after the Israeli warning, several blasts were heard and a large fire was seen in Beirut’s southern suburbs. There was no immediate information on what caused the explosion, or details of any casualties. Panicked crowds clogged the streets and caused traffic jams in some parts of Beirut as they tried to get to neighbourhoods thought to be safer, witnesses said. Here are some images coming through the newswires from Beirut where explosions and smoke are being reported from the city: Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting an evacuation of buildings adjacent to the al-Qard al-Hassan branch in Beirut following reports of blasts in the city. The reported evacuations come after Israel said it will begin striking buildings belonging to al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-run banking system that provides loans and banking services mostly to people who live in areas where Hezbollah is popular. Explosions and smoke seen across Beirut as Israel attacks Hezbollah-run banking systems A blast was heard across Beirut on Saturday evening, according to Reuters’ witnesses who also saw plumes of smoke across the city. More details to follow. Unifil: IDF deliberately demolishes observation tower in Marwahin Israeli forces have “deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position in Marwahin,” Unifil said on Sunday. The UN peacekeeping mission added: “Yet again, we remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.” In recent weeks, the IDF has targeted Unifil watchtowers and peacekeepers multiple times across Lebanon. Israel has also repeatedly demanded that Unifil vacate its positions along the UN-mandated Blue Line – a demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights – which Unifil has refused to yield to. “Despite the pressure being exerted on the mission and our troop-contributing countries, peacekeepers remain in all positions,” the mission said. Israel to begin striking buildings belonging to Hezbollah-run banking system al-Qard al-Hassan William Christou Israel’s military announced on Sunday night that it will begin striking buildings belonging to al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-run banking system that provides loans and banking services primarily to people who live in areas where Hezbollah is popular. Israel said that the institution finances Hezbollah and that “Hezbollah uses this money to finance its terrorist activities,” including purchasing and storing arms. Founded in the 1980s, al-Qard al-Hassan provides interest free loans in line with Islamic banking principles. After Lebanon’s 2019 banking crisis which saw commercial banks freeze accounts, al-Qard al-Hassan became more popular in Lebanon, as it gives collateral-based loans on personal assets such as loans. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese bank with al-Qard al-Hassan, primarily in areas where Hezbollah is popular, but last year the bank even opened a branch in a Christian town in Hezbollah. The bank has branches all over the country, with at least 15 branches in Beirut alone. The institution was sanctioned by the US in 2017 during the Trump administration due to the fact that it gave Hezbollah access to the international financial system, according to the US Treasury. Al-Qard al-Hassan is a branch of Hezbollah’s robust social services network. Analysts have said that the group’s social services are key to its popularity, with a network of hospitals, schools and ambulance corps serving areas where state investment has traditionally been low. Human rights organisations have said that affiliation with Hezbollah does not make civilian institutions legitimate military targets. Over the past year, Israel has killed dozens of medics and first responders who work in the Islamic Health Committee, a Hezbollah-affiliated health service A 41-year-old Israeli colonel was killed and another officer was wounded in combat in northern Gaza on Sunday, the Israeli military said. Israel’s Channel 12 and public broadcaster Kan reported an explosive device had gone off under a tank. On a visit near the border of Lebanon, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said forces were dismantling Hezbollah tunnels, weapons stores and infrastructure. “Our goal is to completely ‘clean’ the area so that Israel’s northern communities may return to their homes,” he added. Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with former U.S. president Donald Trump, the prime minister’s office said on Sunday. “Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated what he has also said publicly: Israel takes into account the issues the U.S. administration raises, but in the end, will make its decisions based on its national interests,” it said. Trump, speaking later to reporters in Philadelphia, said he had had “a very nice call” with Netanyahu on Saturday. The Israeli leader had asked his opinion about what to do with Iran, he said. Israel is pondering its military reaction to recent Iranian missile strikes, Reuters reports. “He was asking what I thought. And I just said, you do what you have to do,” Trump said. Here is the full story on Israel’s foreign minister announcing he is taking “legal and diplomatic measures” against the decision by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to ban Israeli companies from showing their wares at an arms fair in Paris next month. Minister Israel Katz described the “boycott” as an anti-democratic measure that was “not acceptable, especially between friendly nations”. Katz did not elaborate on the measures he had in mind and the French government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Organisers of the Euronaval Salon, a naval defence fair due to take place between 4-7 November, told Reuters that after a decision by the French government no Israeli stands or exhibits would be allowed, although delegates could attend.