Israel: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that a secret Hezbollah financial hub beneath a Beirut hospital had a bunker with hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold, allegedly used to fund the group’s terror operations.
According to the IDF, Hezbollah was hiding $500 million in gold and cash in the secret bunker. They further claimed that the bunker was formerly run by Hezbollah’s slain chief, Hassan Nasrallah.
“Tonight, I am going to declassify intelligence on a site that we did not strike—where Hezbollah has millions of dollars in gold and cash—in Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker. Where is the bunker located? Directly under Al-Sahel Hospital in the heart of Beirut.”
Listen to IDF Spox.… pic.twitter.com/SjMZQpKqoJ
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 21, 2024
IDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, revealed a graphic photo and a video simulation of the structure, which is believed to be the bunker. Hagari, however, clarified that Israel had no plans of targeting the bunker.
“Tonight, I am going to declassify intelligence on a site that we did not strike—where Hezbollah has millions of dollars in gold and cash—in Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker. Where is the bunker located? Directly under Al-Sahel Hospital in the heart of Beirut,” said Hagari in a video message put out on the official handle of IDF on X.
‘Iran sends suitcases of cash, gold by planes to Hezbollah…’
Hagari alleged that the main financial arm of Hezbollah is the Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH) Association, ‘which offers financial services to the Lebanese people and pays the salaries of the Hezbollah operatives.’
AQAH, though registered as a charity, has been accused by both Israel and the US of facilitating Hezbollah’s access to cash and gold reserves for military purposes.
“Hezbollah’s financial network is based on two main sources of income: money from the Iranian regime and money from the Lebanese people. Iran’s crude forces transfers money to the Hezbollah…from Iranian oil sold in Syria. Iran also sends suitcases of cash and gold by planes to the Iranian Embassy in Beirut and then it directly goes to Hezbollah…” he claimed.
Factories operated by Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Turkey are allegedly used to generate income to support the group’s terror activities, according to IDF intelligence.
Hagari’s claims came following Israel’s intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, which IDF claimed was an attempt to disrupt Hezbollah’s finances. Hagari claimed that one of the key targets was an underground vault containing tens of millions of dollars in cash and gold.
While Hagari did not clarify whether all the funds were destroyed in the strike, he said that further airstrikes could be expected.
The recent attack by Israel included over 300 strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon over a 24-hour period, including crucial financial and logistical hubs.
Did former Hamas chief’s wife carry a bag worth Rs 26.9lakh?
In another claim, the Israeli authorities had released a footage allegedly of former Hamas chief, Yahya Sinwar’s wife, days after his assassination. They claimed that Sinwar’s wife was carrying a Hermès Birkin bag worth $32,000 (around Rs 26.9 lakh) in a Gaza tunnel. The Israeli authorities compared the lifestyle of Sinwar’s family to the economic challenges faced by the Gazans at large.
The bag carried by the wife of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in recently published footage of the family was a $32,000 Birkin, according to IDF Spokesperson in Arabic, Lt.-Col. Avichay Adraee on Saturday evening. https://t.co/vFrGVavb1D
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 20, 2024
But, netizens raised doubts over such claims and accused the Israeli state of spreading misinformation.
An X user said, “They are not stupid, they know that’s not a Birkin, but they’re pandering to an audience of evil, delusional beings who are willing to believe anything Israel says so they can continue their support without feelings of guilt bc the ppl they’re murdering somehow deserve it.”
Another user shared photos of Hermes bags to showcase that those are always sewn and never made with “metal fixtures on leather to leather connection points.” He posted images of Birkin and the woman’s bags.
Hermes Birkin bags are never manufactured with metal fixtures on leather to leather connection points, they are always stitched. All leather to leather connections are stitched.
The only exception is metallic fixtures that clasp together.
This manufacturing design is to… pic.twitter.com/9IzB7DzjD7
— Assaf, MD (@_Assaf_MD) October 20, 2024
“Hermes Birkin bags are never manufactured with metal fixtures on leather to leather connection points, they are always stitched. All leather to leather connections are stitched. The only exception is metallic fixtures that clasp together. This manufacturing design is to prevent wear and tear on the leather joints,” the user wrote on X.
