Israeli strikes are taking on a gradual trajectory that goes beyond the traditional military framework, moving toward dismantling the economic infrastructure associated with Hezbollah. From targeting financial institutions such as “Al-Qard Al-Hassan” to expanding operations to include vital service sectors like the “Al-Amana” fuel company, an escalating pattern is emerging that focuses on sources of funding and supply networks.
In this context, an Israeli military source told Alhurra that “the Israeli army, under the direction of the Military Intelligence Directorate, carried out a wave of airstrikes on Tuesday targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah’s fuel sector, days after several such sites had already been struck.” According to the source, these strikes fall “within an escalating policy aimed at targeting the party’s economic resources, alongside its military capabilities.”
At the same time, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that “these facilities are used to supply trucks transporting weapons and Hezbollah operatives and form part of its economic infrastructure.” He added that the objective of these strikes is to “undermine the party’s logistical and economic capabilities.”
Fuel Network… or Financing Structure?
The Lebanese company “Al-Amana” operates in fuel distribution and sales, managing around 50 stations in addition to distribution centers concentrated in the south, the Bekaa, and Beirut. It was founded in 2005 by “a group of Lebanese entrepreneurs.”
However, the Israeli Alma Research and Education Center indicates that the company operates under the umbrella of the “Atlas” Foundation, which was previously under the control of Iran’s “Martyrs Foundation,” before being transferred to what is known as Hezbollah’s economic portfolio. Qassem Mohammad Ali Bazzi serves as CEO, alongside Osama Mohammad Alik.
According to the Israeli military source, the company’s fuel stations are used “to support Hezbollah’s military activity, both in normal times and during escalation, including supplying its members with fuel and using some of these sites as logistical gathering points, giving them a dual role that combines civilian activity with military use.”
Data from the U.S. Treasury Department indicates that sanctions were imposed in 2020 on the “Atlas” Foundation and its affiliated companies, including “Al-Amana,” as well as its founder and director Qassem Bazzi, as part of accusations of supporting Hezbollah’s activities. “Atlas” was also listed among entities linked to Hezbollah’s Executive Council, which is accused of using commercial fronts to conceal financial transfers of a military nature.
The Israeli army estimates that these stations generate millions of dollars that are used to finance Hezbollah’s activities, while the Israeli military source believes that citizens’ use of these stations occurs “without their knowledge” of where these revenues ultimately go.
A Parallel Economy and a Complex Task
On the other hand, experts argue that the picture presented reflects a more complex reality. Financial and economic crimes researcher Mahasen Mursal explains that the designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization by the United States and other international bodies means that “any activities associated with it are classified within the framework of suspicious or illicit funds.”
The U.S. State Department designated Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in October 1997 and later listed it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in October 2001.
Mursal told Alhurra that this reality “pushes the party to diversify its sources of funding through multiple economic networks, including sectors such as gold trading, investment companies, real estate, and commercial enterprises.”
She stressed that tracking these networks is “a complex task that requires precise investigations and cross-referenced information gathering, in addition to analyzing money flows to identify hidden links between different entities and ultimately determine funding sources, especially given international extensions that include North and South America, where some activities have been linked to trade in commodities such as timber, coffee, and cars.”
Meanwhile, a source in the fuel station owners’ syndicate, who requested anonymity, told Alhurra that establishing fuel stations in Lebanon is subject to strict procedures that pass through the Ministries of Energy and Environment and ultimately the governor.
However, the Israeli army believes that “targeting fuel stations inflicts significant damage on Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Lebanon and undermines the ability of its operatives to plan terrorist operations.” It added that this “expands the strike against the assets of Al-Qard Al-Hassan in Beirut as part of targeting Hezbollah’s economic presence within civilian population centers.”
Ultimately, the targeting of “Al-Amana” stations reflects a shift in the confrontation to a more complex phase, where military and economic dimensions overlap, and where security repercussions are directly reflected in the daily lives of Lebanese citizens.
The article is a translation of the original Arabic.
