MONITORING (SW) – Israel’s military claims to have found a bunker full of “cash and gold” belonging to former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah under a hospital in southern Beirut.
Without providing evidence, spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli agents had discovered the bunker under the Sahel General Hospital in Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighbourhood, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Hospital director Fadi Alameh denied there are tunnels under the hospital and said the facility is now being evacuated, reported Euro news.
Hagari also accused Iran of sending “suitcases of cash and gold” to the Iranian embassy in Beirut, saying the money goes “directly to Hezbollah”.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least one person was killed and five wounded as Israel carried out at least 17 strikes on Beirut’s suburbs overnight.
A day eaelier, Hezbollah confirmed that Israel killed Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike, without saying when or where it happened.
Last week, Israel claimed to have killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. Sinwar was tracked by an Israeli mini drone as he lay dying in the ruins of a building in southern Gaza, which filmed him slumped in a chair covered in dust, according to a video released by Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel Tuesday on his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Blinken is set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, according to Israeli officials.
He will raise the importance of a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon as well as the Gaza war. He will also look to revive ceasefire efforts in Gaza after the killing of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
“Secretary Blinken will discuss the importance of bringing the war in Gaza to an end, securing the release of all hostages, and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
