Monday Briefing: Israel Escalates War Against Hezbollah

The Israeli military launched a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon yesterday targeting branches of Al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial association associated with Hezbollah.

The association operates as a lender and financial services provider for civilians in many areas of Lebanon, where the traditional banking sector is in shambles. Many of its branches are situated on the ground floors of residential buildings. Ahead of the strikes, an Israeli military spokesman said that the system was being “used to finance Hezbollah’s terror activities.”

It was among several attacks on Gaza and Lebanon this weekend. Earlier, rescue workers in northern Gaza were searching for survivors after a major Israeli airstrike overnight killed at least 87 people, according to Palestinian officials. Israeli jets had also bombed a Hezbollah stronghold near the Lebanese capital over the weekend.

The death of Yahya Sinwar last week had raised some hopes that negotiations to end the war might gain new momentum. But the Israeli government, Hamas and its ally Hezbollah have all signaled that they will not back down. Attacks over the weekend suggest the violence might be ramping up.

Intelligence leak: On Friday, highly classified U.S. documents that described recent satellite images of Israeli military preparations for a potential strike on Iran began circulating on Telegram.

Possible assassination attempt: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, described a drone attack near his private residence as an attempt on his life by Hezbollah.