The Israeli army announced on Wednesday, February 24, that the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to smuggle cash for the 'terrorist group Hezbollah' in Lebanon through Beirut's international airport in recent weeks. The Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army stated in a post on social media platform X: 'Despite the efforts made, we estimate that some of these transfers have been successfully completed.' Avichai Adraee noted that the Quds Force is transferring this money to Lebanon via civilian flights to be used for Hezbollah's reconstruction. He added that the Israeli army is in contact with a committee led by the United States that oversees the ceasefire and regularly provides necessary information to the U.S. to prevent these transfers. He emphasized that 'Israel will not allow Hezbollah to strengthen and will use all tools at its disposal to enforce the terms of the ceasefire and ensure the security of Israeli citizens.' On February 1, Israel also announced that Iranian diplomats and others were traveling to Lebanon carrying tens of millions of dollars in cash for Hezbollah to be used for the group's revival. Security forces at Beirut's Rafic Hariri airport inspected a plane belonging to Mahan Air on January 3 on suspicion of carrying financial aid for Hezbollah. Lebanese media reported that during this inspection, the contents of a bag belonging to an Iranian diplomat were confiscated by Lebanese authorities after cash was discovered. Naeem Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, announced on December 6 that the Islamic Republic is providing financial assistance to the group to pay money to 'families affected by the war with Israel' and stated that Hezbollah has distributed over 50 million dollars in cash gifts to families affected by the war with Israel. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah who was killed following Israeli airstrikes, stated in July 2016 that all of Hezbollah's budget is funded by Iran. Israel: The Iranian government is sending financial aid to Hezbollah. Israel accused the Islamic Republic of assisting Hezbollah in rearming. Inspection of an Iranian plane at Beirut airport on suspicion of carrying aid for Hezbollah. Discussion with American lawmakers; Tom McClintock: We will witness the collapse of the 'Iranian regime.' Haaretz: The Islamic Republic has smuggled hundreds of millions of dollars to Gaza. Israel: Hezbollah has hidden half a billion dollars in 'gold and cash' under a hospital in Beirut. Exclusive to VOA; Hezbollah's financial resources are running out amid conflict with Israel.
Israel: The IRGC Continues Cash Smuggling for Hezbollah
The Israeli army has accused the IRGC's Quds Force of smuggling cash to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Beirut's airport, despite ongoing efforts to prevent such transfers. This situation highlights the ongoing financial support Iran provides to Hezbollah, which is crucial for the group's operations amid regional tensions. The implications of these actions are significant for Israeli security and U.S.-Iran relations.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Israel accuses IRGC of smuggling cash to Hezbollah via Beirut airport.
- Israeli army announce Hezbollah
- Quds Force transfer Hezbollah
- Lebanese security forces inspect Mahan Air
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The ongoing cash transfers from Iran to Hezbollah pose a significant security threat to Israel.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%