Iran and Hezbollah Smuggling Cash Through Beirut Airport, Israel Claims

Recent reports from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicate that Hezbollah is being funded through illicit cash transfers smuggled via Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport. The IDF claims that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force is involved in moving large sums of US dollars to Hezbollah using civilian flights. This money is reportedly being used to support the terror group’s operations and rebuild its capabilities.

In response, Israel has informed a US-led committee, which oversees the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, about these violations. But despite Israel’s efforts, some transfers may have still succeeded, prompting the IDF to reaffirm its commitment to stopping Hezbollah’s growth.

The issue of smuggling was also raised by a US official in a recent Wall Street Journal report, which outlined complaints about Hezbollah receiving suitcases filled with cash and precious stones.

This smuggling saga is just one element of the broader security challenges following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceasefire agreement, reached in late November, calls for Hezbollah to pull back from southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces withdraw as well. Now, the United States has reportedly granted Israel permission for a "long-term" military presence in southern Lebanon, as the country seeks an extension to the February 18 deadline for its troops to withdraw.

In November, a truce brokered by the US allowed Israeli forces to remain in southern Lebanon for a 60-day period, with the expectation that Hezbollah operatives would withdraw and Lebanese troops would deploy in the region. However, Israel has now requested to extend its presence in five key posts for an additional 10 days, pushing the withdrawal deadline to February 28. This request comes after the US denied an earlier extension request, although US officials have granted permission for Israeli troops to remain in some locations in the south.

Israel's military operations in southern Lebanon have focused on halting Hezbollah’s activities and dismantling weapons stores. Despite these efforts, Hezbollah has resisted the Israeli military presence, urging Lebanon's government to ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops as per the ceasefire agreement.

The tension between the two sides remains high as Israel asserts that Hezbollah continues to reorganize and poses a significant threat to its northern border. Meanwhile, Israel's military operations have intensified, with airstrikes against Hezbollah positions and ongoing efforts to uncover smuggling operations and weapons caches in southern Lebanon.