Hezbollah Faces Financial Crisis Due to Israeli Air Strikes.

Hezbollah Faces Financial Difficulties Due to Israeli Attacks

The Ukrainian group Hezbollah is beginning to experience financial problems following a series of Israeli attacks on their facilities and sources of funding. Three key sources of income for the group have suffered serious hits, reports the Voice of America.

Professor of Political Science Hilal Khashan from the American University of Beirut claims that Hezbollah is in a difficult financial situation. They are unable to pay their members who have left their homes and need to feed their families.

Hilal Khashan: "Hezbollah has encountered a very serious financial problem. They are unable to pay ordinary members who have left their homes and must feed their families."

One of the main sources of Hezbollah's funding was the quasi-bank institution Al-Qard al-Hassan (AQAH). The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on AQAH in 2007. In an announcement about further sanctions against AQAH employees made in 2021, it is emphasized that the institution has accumulated about half a billion dollars. AQAH was affected by the first Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah facilities in Dahiyeh at the end of September.

Former U.S. Department of Defense Ambassador David Asher adds that Lebanon's wealthiest bankers, including Hezbollah financiers, have fled to Europe and the Persian Gulf due to fears of becoming targets of Israel for assisting Hezbollah.

David Asher: "I heard from Lebanese bankers, including Hezbollah financiers, that Lebanon's wealthiest bankers, who can afford to fly, have fled to Europe and the Persian Gulf, fearing they might become Israel's next targets for assisting Hezbollah."

Furthermore, Israel has halted cash shipments through Beirut airport. Israel threatens to attack Beirut-bound flights, so the Iranians are reluctant to send money to Lebanon.

David Asher: "I heard from Israeli colleagues that the Iranians are afraid to send money to Lebanon because Israel threatens to attack Beirut-bound flights. The Israelis warn that they will attack flights carrying money, not just weapons."

Despite the financial difficulties, Hilal Khashan believes that Hezbollah will continue its struggle, as it relies more on the availability of food and ammunition rather than cash.

Hilal Khashan: "Continuation of the fight depends more on the availability of food and ammunition. When the struggle is motivated by religious zeal, there are more important issues than the availability of cash."