Israel SitRep: October 21, 2024

Today’s Issue: | IDF Strikes Hezbollah Financial Targets in Lebanon Overnight | Al-Qard al-Hassan Association: A Hezbollah Financial Institution Used to Launder Money | IDF Operating in Northern, Central, and Southern Gaza; IDF Evacuating Jabalya | IDF Continues Operations in Southern Lebanon, Destroying Weapons, Eliminating Hezbollah Operatives | Latest FDD Analysis

IDF Strikes Hezbollah Financial Targets in Lebanon Overnight: On Sunday evening, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announced that the IDF would be striking targets in Lebanon overnight and that “anyone located near sites used to fund Hezbollah’s terror activities must move away … immediately.” He added: “In the coming days, we will reveal how Iran funds Hezbollah’s terror activities by using civilian institutions, associations, and NGOs that act as fronts for terrorism.” IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a warning to residents of Lebanon that the army would soon begin attacking infrastructure belonging to Al-Qard al-Hassan, a U.S. Treasury-designated Hezbollah financial institution. By around 10:30 last night, the IDF had ordered the evacuation of 24 sites in Lebanon. This morning, the IDF announced that overnight, Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck targets in Beirut, in southern Lebanon, and deep in Lebanon, including dozens of command centers and sites where Hezbollah kept terrorist funds. The announcement added that one of the places was Al-Qard al-Hassan, which, it said, directly finances Hezbollah’s terrorist activity, including salaries for members of the military wing and weapons purchases. The announcement added: “These attacks are another part of the IDF’s ongoing effort to hinder Hezbollah’s terrorist activities, disrupt Hezbollah’s military activity, and to make it difficult for Hezbollah to reestablish its military capabilities.”

Al-Qard al-Hassan Association: A Hezbollah Financial Institution Used to Launder Money: On Monday, the Alma Research and Education Center published information on Hezbollah’s financial institution Al-Qard al-Hassan Association. Founded in 1981, the association has more than 200,000 customers, functions as a bank for Hezbollah operatives, and launders money for the group. In 2021, the association’s databases were hacked, and a large amount of information was leaked, including information on its customers, many of them sanctioned Hezbollah operatives; its accounts in other banks, which violate U.S. sanctions and are used for money laundering; and security camera photos from its branches. Hezbollah maintains a quasi-state infrastructure in Lebanon parallel to that of the Lebanese government, which includes economic, welfare, social, educational, health, and sports institutions, which are intended to strengthen the group’s standing in Lebanon generally and the Shia community in particular.

IDF Operating in Northern, Central, and Southern Gaza; IDF Evacuating Jabalya: The IDF on Monday reported on operations in the Gaza Strip, noting that in the past day,  the 162nd Division, operating in the Jabalya area in northern Gaza, destroyed tunnel shafts and terrorist infrastructures and eliminated dozens of terrorists. In addition, the 401st Armored Brigade killed several terrorists in close combat, through tank fire, and by directing Israeli Air Force airstrikes. In Rafah in southern Gaza, the Gaza Division eliminated several terrorists, while in central Gaza, the 252nd Division destroyed a weapons depot and terrorist infrastructure. The 454th Artillery Brigade directed an IAF drone strike that killed a Hamas engineering operative along with several other terrorists. Meanwhile, Itay Blumental, military correspondent for Israel’s Channel 11, reports that the IDF is evacuating the Jabalya refugee camp, distributing water to women and children, and taking men of combat age for interrogation first. Hundreds of people have been leaving Jabalya since this morning despite threats from Hamas, and many are fleeing to Khan Younis in southern Gaza and to locations in northern Gaza.

IDF Continues Operations in Southern Lebanon, Destroying Weapons, Eliminating Hezbollah Operatives: On Monday, the IDF reported that in southern Lebanon, the 36th, 98th, 146th, and 91st divisions destroyed a large number of Hezbollah weapons caches that included anti-tank missiles and launchers aimed at northern Israel, guns, RPG cartridges, and grenades. After troops from the 91st Division spotted a Hezbollah squad firing rockets at northern Israel from an area near a school, they called in an airstrike and an IAF drone eliminated the squad members. In the past day, the 98th Division has killed a large number of Hezbollah operatives, including tactical commanders and a squad that fired anti-tank missiles at IDF troops. Soldiers from the 36th and 146th divisions found anti-tank missile launchers aimed at northern Israel along with tunnels and directed IAF airstrikes that killed Hezbollah operatives. The IAF also struck dozens of additional launchers aimed at Israel as well as Hezbollah military buildings and other military infrastructures.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Eugene Kontorovich, FDD Event

“Iran is Gaining Ground in Jordan,” Ahmad Sharawi, The National Interest

“Iran’s Ballistic Missile Gift to Russia—And Vice Versa,” Behnam Ben Taleblu and John Hardie, The National Interest

“How not to dethrone an authoritarian leader: The case of Turkey’s Erdoğan,” Sinan Ciddi, Global Voices

“Turkish University Celebrates Hamas, October 7,” Sinan Ciddi and Sophia Epley, FDD Policy Brief

“The lights are still blinking red—Sunni Islamists and Iran are determined to attack the homeland,” Will Selber, FDD’s Long War Journal

“The ‘How’ over the ‘What:’ Israel’s dilemma beyond target selection in Iran,” Janatan Sayeh, FDD’s Long War Journal

“IDF Eliminates Terrorists Who Penetrated Through Border With Jordan,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Lebanese Prime Minister Issues Rare Complaint Over Iranian ‘Interference’,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Drone Targets Netanyahu Home as Iranian-Backed Terror Group Claims War with Israel Entering “New Phase”,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Druze Colonel Killed During Jabaliya Operation,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel SitRep: October 18, 2024,” FDD Experts, FDD Israel at War Situation Report