An individual carrying $2.5 million in cash allegedly destined for the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah was detained at Beirut’s airport in a significant bust on Friday. The detainee and the seized funds will be handed over to the investigation division at the General Directorate of General Security, as stated by Lebanon's finance ministry.
According to sources, the man had been traveling from Turkey, raising concerns about the flow of funds to Hezbollah. Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, expressed worries about Hezbollah's rearming efforts, funded by the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a means to destabilize the Middle East.
David Daoud, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the $2.5 million seizure as unprecedented, highlighting the potential use of Turkey as a conduit for Iranian funds to reach Hezbollah.
Daoud also raised questions about the effectiveness of current measures in intercepting such cash transfers, suggesting that this incident might be just one instance among many that go undetected.
Reports indicate that the money seized was intended for Hezbollah, a group that has faced recent setbacks due to Israeli military actions. Despite the significant seizure, there was no immediate response from Hezbollah following the incident.
Israel's conflict with Hezbollah has escalated, with cross-border skirmishes and ground operations on Lebanese soil occurring until a ceasefire agreement was reached late last year. The death of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a September Israeli airstrike further underscores the ongoing tensions in the region.
