How does a terrorist organization like Hezbollah manage to establish itself financially when there is a severe financial crisis in the country in which it was founded?
Let's start with the obvious, Hezbollah, which was established in Lebanon as early as the last century - dips its hand into public funds. Funds intended for the benefit of the country's citizens, such as health services, education, and social work, are channeled to buy weapons and establish terrorist infrastructures.
Another means of defrauding citizens, is an association that was established to deal with the heavy economic crisis that plagues the country. In reality, it is a financial system controlled by the organization's commanders, which collects public funds and uses them for terrorist activities. The profits, which are supposed to be used to restore and improve the status of Lebanon - are devoted, among other things, to launching rockets towards Israel every day.
The cynical exploitation of Lebanon's uninvolved residents continues and echoes the choice of the storage place for those terrorist funds - in designated warehouses embedded in the civil space of the country. More than 20 of those sites were attacked yesterday by Israel's Air Force, most of them in the Da'aheh district in Beirut.
Last night (Monday), an IDF spokesman revealed an underground money bunker in which tens of millions of dollars worth of silver and gold are stored, located under a hospital in the heart of the city. Its contents are earmarked by Hezbollah for terrorist activities against the State of Israel.
Iran's efforts to transfer the money can be divided into three main efforts. But before that, it is important to recognize the existence of the global laws that prohibit the financing of terrorist activities. Those agreements and treaties are what prevent it from writing an open check to Hezbollah and openly subsidizing it. Instead, it is forced to operate secretly, and roll the bills under the radar, in an attempt to establish a legitimate status among the countries of the world.
The first stop on the way to the destination is Syria. Through the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, shipments of oil and money are delivered to various companies operating in its territory including the "BS" company of the Katarji family. The family business that stands behind the oil importation is assisted by Hezbollah's transfer unit, thus lining the pocket of the terrorist organization with tens of millions of dollars. This was the situation until June 2024, when the oil baron who headed it was killed.
The next transfer route, Iran's King's Road - relies on its diplomatic relations with Lebanon. With its help, it sends funds from the Quds Force's independent oil sales directly to the Iranian embassy in Beirut. From there, it's a short walk to the organization's headquarters.
Under the auspices of Iran, Hezbollah promotes other economic initiatives, including importing gas to Syria and establishing factories in Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and Turkey. Heading this revenue stream was Muhammad Jaafar Katzir, the commander of the transfer unit and the organization's financial manager, who is in demand all over the world. He managed Hezbollah's main source of income for years, until he was eliminated in a targeted attack in Beirut in early October.
Even though they tried to stay under the radar, the Intelligence Division tracked down these activities and revealed their flagrant violation of international law.
On the way to the big jackpot in the twisted board game of the Axis of Evil, Hezbollah and Iran are the leading players. But the next move has been reserved for the IDF.
The IDF contributed to this article.
