The IAF conducted a series of overnight targeted, intelligence-based strikes against dozens of facilities and sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to finance its terrorist activities against the State of Israel, the Military announced on Monday. The strikes were conducted in the areas of Beirut, southern Lebanon, and deep within Lebanese territory.
These funds, which Hezbollah used for terror activities, were stored by the Al-Qard al-Hassan Association, which directly funds Hezbollah's terror activities, including the purchase weapons and payments to operatives in Hezbollah's military wing. The Hezbollah terrorist organization stores billions of dollars in the association's branches, including money that was directly held under the name of the terrorist organization.
Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including advance warnings issued via different platforms to the civilian population in the area.
These strikes are part of the IDF's ongoing efforts to degrade Hezbollah's terror infrastructure, its military capabilities, and its ability to rebuild.
The IDF announced its intention to strike the targets, saying itwas poised Sunday night to strike at many targets in Beirut and other places that belong to the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, army spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters.
“We will issue an advance evacuation warning to residents of Beirut and other areas in Lebanon to evacuate locations being used to finance Hezbollah's terror activities.
“I emphasize here—anyone located near sites used to fund Hezbollah’s terror activities must move away from these locations immediately,” Hagari stressed.
“In the coming days, we will reveal how Iran finances Hezbollah's terrorist activities through the use of civil institutions, associations, and non-profits as a cover for terrorist operations.
“We will attack them during the night and update them on the results of the attack in the coming day,” he said. “We will strike several targets in the coming hours and additional targets throughout the night."
#هگاری: در روزهای آینده نحوه تامین مالی فعالیت های تروریستی #حزب_الله توسط ایران از طریق پوشش نهادها، موسسات و انجمن های مدنی به برای فعالیت های تروریستی را فاش خواهیم کرد.ما در طول شب به آنها حمله خواهیم کرد و بعداً نتایج حمله را به‌روزرسانی خواهیم کرد.
— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) October 20, 2024
“In the coming days, we will reveal how Iran funds Hezbollah's terror activities by using civilian institutions, associations, and NGOs that act as fronts for terrorism,” Hagar said.
He spoke one day after Israel claimed that Hezbollah had tried to assassinate Netanyahu by launching a drone toward his Caesarea home.
Hagari marks the death of Col. Ehsan Daxa
Haragi began his remarks by addressing the death of the Commander of IDF's 401st "Iron Tracks" Brigade, Col. Ehsan Daxa, whose death was announced shortly before he spoke.
"He was an outstanding warrior," Haragi emphasized. "He fell when he was leading his troops."
Additionally, Hagari reiterated that the commanders of the 401st Brigade would continue to fight and lead further operations in Gaza.
"Col. Meir Biderman, who has served as Deputy Commander of the 162nd Division, will assume Ehsan's position," Hagari said.
A post-Sinwar Middle East
On Sunday night the security cabinet met to discuss Israel’s pending retaliatory strike against Iran and possibilities for a renewed hostage deal in the aftermath of the IDF’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.
In advance of the meeting, Defense Yoav Gallant held consultations with security officials, including Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon about possibilities for a new hostage deal.
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar was in Egypt on Sunday to meet with newly appointed Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad. Both Qatar and Egypt have been the main negotiators for a deal with the help of the United States.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to travel to the Middle East this week, where he is expected to make a stop in Israel to discuss options for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in the aftermath of Sinwar’s death.
Sources close to the talks have said however that little can happen with respect to a deal until after Israel’s retaliatory strike on Iran. Progress can only occur, they said, as long as Hamas is banking on a regional war.
Iran has warned that it will respond to any Israeli retaliatory strike. The United States has sent an anti-ballistic missile system to Israel and is prepared to help defend the Jewish state against any further direct Iranian attacks. Iran has twice attacked Israel, once in April and once at the start of October.
US President Joe Biden over the weekend has said he believes a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is possible but that a Gaza deal would be harder to achieve.
Still, he has told Israel that now is the time to end the war in Gaza and has asked that it constrain its activity in Beirut.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in public statements in the last days has stood firm on the need to destroy Hamas, free the remaining 101 hostages in Gaza, and create a new security reality in the north that would allow the over 60,000 evacuated residents to return home.
In a visit to the northern border on Sunday Gallant said, “Not only are we defeating the enemy [Hezbollah], but we are destroying them by dismantling their tunnels, weapon storages, and their attack infrastructure. The result is clear – in the places that Hezbollah prepared to use as launchpads for raids into [Israeli] communities, there are now IDF troops conducting operations.”
“Our goal is to completely ‘clean’ the area [of Hezbollah infrastructure] so that Israel’s northern communities may return to their homes and rebuild their lives. I believe that this is very significant – the IDF is conducting operations and we still have missions to complete.”We have Hezbollah prisoners who are sharing information. They have informed us of the great fear felt [among Hezbollah terrorists]. Hezbollah is collapsing,” Gallant said.
Netanyahu on Saturday night spoke with former US 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 US 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.
"He was asking what I thought. And I just said you do what you have to do," Trump said.
Reuters and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.