Israel accuses Turkey of cooperating with Iran to fund Hezbollah via civilian channels

TEL AVIV — During a meeting with several US senators, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Iran of making significant efforts to financially support Hezbollah. “It is cooperating with Turkey,” Saar added, emphasizing the implications of these alliances.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee revealed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been using Beirut International Airport to funnel funds to Hezbollah under the guise of civilian flights. Despite Israeli measures to block these activities, Adraee stated that Israel has shared this intelligence with the US-led ceasefire monitoring committee.

Israel has also lodged an official complaint with the committee, highlighting the involvement of Turkish citizens in transferring money from Istanbul to Beirut. Israeli officials regard this operation as a threat, contributing to Hezbollah’s financing in the region.

Reports indicate that Hezbollah is experiencing financial strain due to international sanctions and Iran’s ongoing economic crisis. Nevertheless, the group has managed to compensate war victims in southern Lebanon, leveraging the Qard al-Hasan Bank to issue checks valued at millions of dollars.