Israel‘s military claims it has uncovered a Hezbollah bunker containing ‘at least $500million in cash and gold’ which it says was ‘deliberately placed’ beneath a hospital.
A video released by the Israeli Defence Forces shows a 3D illustration of the Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut and what it claims are secret underground rooms where the terror group is allegedly hoarding money.
The IDF claims that the vast wealth was funnelled into Lebanon as part of a deal between Iran and the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and would be used to fund ‘terrorist operations’.
Panicked staff and patients were evacuated from the hospital amid fears that it would be targeted by the IDF following the announcement last night.
But IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari insisted that while the Israeli Air Force is ‘monitoring the compound’, it ‘will not strike the hospital itself.’
The hospital is located in the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital city, in an area known to be a Hezbollah stronghold.
The hospital’s director said Israel’s allegations are ‘false’ and insists the facility has not been used by Hezbollah.
‘This hospital is private and is not affiliated with any entity,’ Fadi Alameh told reporters.
‘It was built 42 years ago and there is no possibility of it having a bunker or any hiding place. The hospital is open to anyone who wants to verify this matter,’ he said.
Mr Alameh added that the only areas below ground were rooms used as operating theatres.
He invited the Lebanese Army to visit the site and check for the Hezbollah bunker.
Journalists were given a tour today and allowed to walk around the hospital themselves, including to the levels below ground, where they said they only saw medical facilities.
The IDF hit back at the tour, claiming the journalists had not obtained access to the secret bunkers and had only been shown wards.
Addressing the journalists, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Col. Avihai Adrei said: ‘Enter the places we exposed and don’t waste your time on shows inside the medical wards. Go down to the Hezbollah bunker.’
He added an address which he said was the entrance to the lock up and told them to ‘go there.’ Israel’s claims have not been verified.
Hagari said in his statement last night that Hezbollah has factories in Lebanon, as well as Syria, Yemen and Turkey, which provide ‘income for its terrorist operations’.
He added that the influx of cash and gold from this network ‘devalues the Lebanese pound’.
He said that the vast funds allegedly stored beneath the hospital ‘could have been used to rebuild Lebanon, but instead, they are used to rebuild Hezbollah.’
He also issued a warning to Hezbollah, saying: ‘The Israeli air force is monitoring the compound.’
‘We call on Lebanese citizens, the Lebanese government and international organizations – do not allow Hezbollah to store money beneath hospitals,’ he added.
The IDF shared the claim as it continues to target Hezbollah’s financial wing, Al-Qard Al-Hassan, with strikes on 30 facilities associated with it hit since Sunday.
Hagari said one of the main targets was an underground vault containing ‘tens of millions of dollars in cash and gold’ which had been ‘deliberately located’ beneath a residential building.
Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday night: ‘Degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities requires both a military and economic campaign. We are destroying the terrorist organisation’s ability to both launch and buy missiles.’
‘Hezbollah’s bank is used to purchase weapons, pay the salaries of terrorists, and keep Hezbollah’s terror machine going.’
