His identity remains unknown for the moment, but his role was crucial in the financing and functioning of the Lebanese Islamist movement. A senior Hezbollah official, commander of the renowned Unit 4400, was shot dead by the Israeli army this Monday, October 21 in Syria. This attack is the latest coup by the Israeli army, in a new strategy launched a few days ago consisting of attacking Hezbollah’s financial interests.
Unit 4400 is notably responsible for transfers of funds from Hezbollah, obtained largely through the transport and sale of Iranian oil unloaded in Syria to be resold in Lebanon. “We are talking about tens of millions of dollars,” said Admiral Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, announcing the death of the official. This is not the first time that the 4400 has been neutralized by Israel: it was previously commanded by Mohammed Jafar Ksir, also known as Sheikh Salah, who “managed the organization’s main source of income for years”, and who was eliminated by Israel “in a targeted attack” in Beirut in early October.
Targeted attack against Hezbollah financing bodies
On Sunday, the army said it had launched a comprehensive offensive against Hezbollah’s financial resources across Lebanon. Thirty targets linked to the financial company Al-Qard al-Hassan (“the virtuous loan”, in Arabic), close to Hezbollah, were struck simultaneously. Subject to American sanctions, this institution is part of the network of associations, schools and hospitals set up by Hezbollah to strengthen its influence within the Shiite community thanks to its very popular credits and banking services in a Lebanon in crisis. The group’s offices were notably completely destroyed in the suburbs of Beirut on Monday October 21.
Affected by American sanctions for many years, accused of serving as a front for Hezbollah for its financial activities, the organization with around thirty branches in Beirut and several other regions has been registered with the authorities since the 1980s. he Israeli army, the Al-Qard al-Hassan group is in reality Hezbollah’s private bank: it receives “funds from Iran, grants loans and finances terrorism” of the Lebanese Islamist movement, according to Admiral Hagari.
Another jackpot for the Israeli army: Monday October 21, the IDF also claimed to have struck a Hezbollah bunker containing “tens of millions of dollars”, “used to finance Hezbollah attacks against Israel”, according to the spokesperson. All “in cash and gold”.