US PUSHES FOR LEBANON CEASEFIRE AS IRAN AND ISRAEL HOLD FIRM ON TOUGH STANCE

Israel targeted sites in Lebanon belonging to what they say is ‘Hezbollah’s financial arm’. The finance group al-Qard al-Hassan.

Mon 21 October 2024:

As a senior US diplomat visits Beirut on Monday to discuss the potential for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, Iranian state media continues to tout the “victorious” attacks carried out by Tehran-backed militias.

US envoy Amos Hochstein will visit Beirut on Monday for discussions with Lebanese officials regarding conditions for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to two sources in Lebanon, Reuters reported. The talks come as Israel intensified its air campaign against Hezbollah, targeting several of the group’s assets overnight.

Late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes hit multiple branches of a financial institution linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, though no casualties were immediately reported.

According to a report from Axios, Israel has presented the US with a document outlining its conditions for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Lebanon. Among Israel’s demands is the ability for its forces to conduct “active enforcement” to ensure Hezbollah does not rearm or rebuild military infrastructure near the border, the report noted, citing Israeli and US officials.

A US official told Axios it was highly unlikely that Lebanon and the international community would agree to Israel’s conditions.

Iran’s government news website, IRNA, on Monday published a lead report highlighting comments by an Arab pundit saying that all militias loyal to Iran are preparing for a “war of cities” by launching a major simultaneous barrage of missiles and drones.

Tasnim news website, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, highlighted “victories by Hezbollah,” including multiple rocket attacks on Israeli military targets and border area towns.

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Rouydad-24, a relatively independent website highlighted the difficulty for Iran to reduce tensions. “Abbas Araghchi, our Foreign Minister, is constantly traveling and consulting with regional countries, but analysts believe the situation is too complex for him to achieve a diplomatic formula to reduce tensions and establish a ceasefire through these consultations.”

In reality, Araghchi’s extensive regional tour last week was primarily focused on advocating for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, where Israeli military pressure remains relentless. Additionally, he aimed to leverage the influence of Arab countries to help mitigate the looming threat of an Israeli retaliatory strike against Iran.

Israel said its air force overnight attacked dozens of sites in Beirut and southern Lebanon used by Hezbollah to finance its operations, with reports that hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes after multiple explosions in the Lebanese capital.

An Israeli military spokesperson said earlier in a statement posted on social media platform X that it “will begin attacking infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association – get away from it immediately.” The so-called Islamic banks operate outside the Lebanese banking system and are supposed to be benevolent lending institutions for the needy.

Al-Qard al-Hassan – which the US has said is used by Iran-backed Hezbollah to manage its finances – has more than 30 branches across Lebanon including 15 in densely populated parts of central Beirut and its suburbs.

Asked by journalists whether the branches could be considered military targets, a senior Israeli intelligence official said: “The purpose of this strike is to target the ability of Hezbollah economic function both during the war but also afterwards to rebuild and to rearm …on the day after.”

This article originally published in Iran International click here