Israel Claims $500M Hidden Beneath Beirut's Al-Sahel Hospital; Management Denies

The administration of Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut has denied recent claims by Israel that a Hezbollah bunker containing $500 million is located beneath the hospital.

The allegations, made by Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari, have sparked tensions, with the hospital’s management calling them a "pretext for continuing attacks on Lebanon and its institutions."

In a statement, Fadi Fakhri Alameh, one of the hospital’s directors, dismissed the accusations as baseless. "Israel's accusations are unfounded and are used to justify further attacks on Lebanon," Alameh told CNN. He invited representatives from the Lebanese army, the United Nations, and journalists to inspect the hospital, stating that it only houses operating rooms, with no tunnels or bunkers. The hospital, he emphasized, has been operating for 42 years without any political affiliations.

Al-Sahel Hospital also pointed to a pattern in Israeli military actions, noting that similar claims were made against hospitals in Gaza prior to airstrikes. "Now they are doing the same in Lebanon," Alameh said.

In response to these accusations, Hagari explained that the funds allegedly stored beneath the hospital were intended for Hezbollah's military activities. He warned that Israeli forces were monitoring the area and would continue operations targeting Hezbollah across Lebanon. He also urged the Lebanese government and international bodies to prevent Hezbollah from using civilian infrastructure for its activities.

Meanwhile, search efforts continue at Rafik Hariri Hospital following an Israeli airstrike on Monday night that reportedly flattened four buildings. The strike resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including a child, and left 57 others wounded. No evacuation warning was issued prior to the attack.

Israel Conducts Fresh Airstrikes on Buildings Allegedly Containing Hezbollah Cash

During the night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes targeting multiple buildings in Lebanon, allegedly housing funds used by Hezbollah for its military operations. According to an official statement from the IDF, Air Force fighter jets struck several locations, including Beirut, Ezom, and southern Lebanon. These airstrikes were conducted under the direction of Israeli intelligence, focusing on sites connected to Hezbollah's financial network.

The targets included assets of the Kerch Al-Hassan Association, which reportedly stores hundreds of millions of dollars used by Hezbollah for purchasing weapons and paying salaries to its military operatives. The association is directly tied to financing Hezbollah's activities, according to the IDF.

The IDF emphasized that efforts were made to minimize civilian casualties by issuing warnings to residents in the affected areas before the attacks. Israel's airstrikes are reportedly part of a larger strategy aimed at weakening Hezbollah's military capabilities and disrupting its operations.