Israel will strike Hezbollah “until it collapses,” foreign minister says
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Israel struck over 15 buildings in Lebanon’s capital Beirut targeting Hezbollah’s financial institutions, adding that it will keep hitting the group until it collapses.
An Israeli airstrike hit a branch of a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution near Beirut airport on Sunday night, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). The strike on the branch of Al-Qard Al-Hasan in southern Beirut, near the Rafic Hariri International Airport, was one of at least 11 on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Sunday night, according to NNA. Several branches of Al-Qard Al-Hasan were hit, it said.
Some background: Founded in 1983, Al-Qard Al-Hassan is a non-profit financial institution linked to Hezbollah, according to Hezbollah-affiliated TV channel Al-Manar. It offers interest-free loans to alleviate poverty within the Shia community, based on Islamic principles of lending without interest, Al-Manar says.
Blinken departs Monday for a high-stakes trip to Israel and the Middle East
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a crucial trip to Israel and the Middle East on Monday, aimed at reviving stalled negotiations to secure the release of hostages and end the war in Gaza following Yahya Sinwar’s death.
US officials, including President Joe Biden, have urged Israeli leaders to leverage Sinwar’s killing to bring the year-long conflict to a close. Last week, Biden announced Blinken’s upcoming visit to support these efforts.
However, uncertainties remain regarding how Sinwar’s death will affect negotiations for hostages and a ceasefire, especially since discussions had nearly collapsed just weeks prior. It remains unclear if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas is genuinely prepared to end the conflict.
“Now is the time to move on towards a ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring we head in a direction that benefits everyone,” Biden said during a phone call with Netanyahu last week.
In response to Sinwar’s death, Netanyahu remarked, “Today, evil has suffered a heavy blow, but the task before us is not yet complete.”
Additionally, Israel’s potential response to Iran following missile attacks earlier this month raises concerns about a broader regional conflict. This risk is further heightened as Israel continues its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Blinken plans to emphasize the necessity of finding a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict during his trip, according to the State Department.
