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Israel has launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, targeting al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial institution linked to Hezbollah. These strikes hit at least 10 branches of the institution, which operates like a bank, issuing loans, managing ATMs, and accepting gold as collateral. Israeli officials say this was a major blow to Hezbollah’s economic infrastructure, which funds its militant operations. Al-Qard al-Hasan, officially registered as a charity, has long served Lebanon’s Shiite community. Despite sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department since 2007, it has grown, providing essential financial services in the wake of Lebanon’s banking collapse. However, these airstrikes threaten to sever the trust Hezbollah has with its community, as many depositors now worry about their savings and gold. Israel claims that Hezbollah used al-Qard al-Hasan’s funds to finance attacks, while critics argue that targeting financial infrastructure violates international humanitarian law. The conflict’s escala
