IDF Reveals Hezbollah Bunker Under Beirut Hospital Holding Half a Billion Dollars
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has revealed significant details regarding a Hezbollah bunker used by the group’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, which was found beneath Al-Sahel Hospital in the Dahieh district of southern Beirut. According to IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the bunker stored over half a billion dollars in cash and gold, funds that were allegedly intended to finance Hezbollah’s terrorist activities rather than aid the reconstruction of Lebanon.
The IDF has launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, particularly focusing on Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financial organization that functions as a bank for Hezbollah. This entity is linked to Hezbollah’s financing network, which supports the group’s militant operations. Lebanese media reported the destruction of several Al-Qard Al-Hassan branches in Beirut, including one near a statue of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force.
A visual documentation of the bunker’s layout obtained by the IDF showed the bunker’s strategic placement beneath the hospital. Although the IDF has highlighted that the bunker not only served as an emergency shelter for Nasrallah but also as a central hub for Hezbollah’s finances, it emphasized that it would not target the hospital itself, which has since been evacuated. Al-Sahel Hospital’s director, Fadi Alameh, denied the IDF’s claims and called on the Lebanese army to verify the site.
Dr. Udi Levy, a former head of Mossad’s Economic Warfare Division, argued that while Hezbollah likely moved much of its financial assets underground, the attack on its financial system sends a powerful message. According to Levy, disrupting Hezbollah’s money flow is crucial to destabilizing its grip on Lebanon. He added that panic among the Shia population—many of whom have deposited assets in Al-Qard Al-Hassan—could severely undermine Hezbollah’s financial base, especially as the organization already faces economic pressure.
Al-Qard Al-Hassan, established in 1982, provides loans and holds accounts for Hezbollah’s supporters. Despite being subject to U.S. sanctions for 17 years, the financial entity has continued to thrive, with estimates suggesting it managed around $3.5 billion in total activity up until 2019. According to U.S. and Israeli intelligence, Hezbollah’s annual budget of approximately $1 billion is largely funded by Iran, with additional income from illicit activities such as drug trafficking.
The IDF also confirmed an airstrike in Damascus on Monday that killed Hezbollah’s chief financial official, responsible for transferring funds from Iran to the group. This strike forms part of a broader effort by Israel to weaken Hezbollah’s financial and operational capacity.
