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On the night of October 21, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of devastating strikes on the Lebanese capital. Aircraft of the Israeli Air Force and drones struck overnight 16 offices and branches of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial and credit association, which sponsors the activities of the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon and provides assistance to its supporters.
The Association specializes in quasi-banking activities, consisting mainly of providing loans and managing charitable public funds in accordance with Islamic religious law to members of the Shiite community of Lebanon. At the moment, 31 branches of the association were located in Lebanon – in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and in the south of the country. The Al-Qard Al-Hassan association has reportedly provided loans worth more than three billion dollars in recent years, and its services have been used by more than one million residents, most of whom belong to the Shiite group operating in the country.
According to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the Israeli Air Force struck 15 buildings of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial and credit association in Beirut during the night. The 11 offices struck by the airstrikes were located on the southern outskirts of Beirut, the rest in Baalbek, the Beqaa Valley and in the south of the country in Tyre. A series of strikes targeted the area near Beirut’s airport, the main entry-point of humanitarian assistance to the country and a major evacuation hub for those fleeing the conflict.
Earlier, the Israeli military announced its intention to strike targets belonging to Qard al-Hassan in various areas of Lebanon, including the southern suburbs of Beirut. Strikes began shortly after.
The strikes came after Israel said it had hit dozens of targets during air raids on Lebanon earlier Sunday, as Hezbollah claimed numerous rocket strikes over the border and clashes with Israeli ground troops. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon said the Israeli army had “deliberately” damaged one of their positions, the latest incident reported by the force.
Currently the most important areas of Israeli attacks and advances include Ramiah, Aita al-Shaab, Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Aitaroun, Blida, Mheihib, Mays al-Jabal, Odaiseh, Kfarkila.
