Hezbollah's financial department, known as "Al-Qard Al-Hassan" (Arabic: القرض الحسن), is a financial body operating under the organization's auspices, providing financial services ...
Hezbollah's financial department, known as "Al-Qard Al-Hassan" (Arabic: القرض الحسن), is a financial body operating under the organization's auspices, providing financial services primarily to Shia communities in Lebanon. The department is considered a central mechanism for funding the organization's activities, including both military and civilian operations.
Al-Qard Al-Hassan functions as a type of social bank, offering interest-free loans and operating through a network of branches across Lebanon. Its services include financial management, capital storage, and money transfers to fund Hezbollah's operations. Despite its appearance as a social institution, it is a primary target of sanctions by the U.S. and other countries due to its involvement in financing terrorism. Furthermore, its facilities are occasionally hit in military strikes, such as Israeli operations targeting the organization's economic assets.
Hezbollah's economic capability relies on this entity, alongside support from foreign states like Iran, drug trafficking, and donations. Al-Qard Al-Hassan combines overt financial activities with covert operations aimed at concealing the sources and destinations of its funds.
