Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a Lebanese bank, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2007 due to its alleged role in managing Hezbollah’s financial activities and gaining access to the international financial system. The bank has more than 30 branches across Lebanon, with some located in the Shiite-majority southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel recently launched strikes on the bank as part of its broader conflict with Hezbollah, beyond targeting the group’s military sites. The IDF has also conducted ground raids in southern Lebanon, dismantling weapons and killing Hezbollah members. The escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in the deaths of at least 2,464 people, including 127 children, and the displacement of an estimated 1.2 million people in Lebanon. Treasury officials have accused Hezbollah of exploiting the Lebanese financial sector through Al-Qard Al-Hassan, draining the country’s financial resources further during a time of existing economic and political crises. The continued violence in the region underscores the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with significant humanitarian impacts on the Lebanese population.
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