West Asia crisis: Israel bombs Hezbollah-linked finance group Al-Qard Al-Hassan

The Israeli military has started bombing the Lebanese branchesof an association accused of financing Hezbollah, marking a further escalation in the West Asia crisis.

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According to Lebanese state media on Monday (Oct 21), there were 11 Israeli strikes onBeirut's southern suburbs, many of them targeting Al-Qard Al-Hassan- which is linked to Hezbollah's financial operations.

Other strikes hit the association in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and the country's south.

Israeli strike lands on Beirut airport

Lebanese media also reportedthat a strike had landed near Beirut's airport, the main entry point of humanitarian assistance to the country and a major evacuation hub for those fleeing the conflict.

The conflict between Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollahresumed a year ago when the militant group began firing rockets at Israel in support of Palestinian militants Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

The death toll from Israeli airstrikes onLebanonsince the beginning of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has reached 2,464, with injuries up to 11,530, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported on Sunday.

Israel orders evacuation in 2 neighbourhoods in south Beirut

Also on Sunday, the Israeli army ordered civilians located near buildings it said were "affiliated with Hezbollah" in two neighbourhoods in south Beirut to immediately evacuate, marking thefacilities on two maps and saying the military would "work against" them soon.

Also watch |Israel targets Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon

The "urgent warning" was issued by the military's Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee, and concerned the neighbourhoods of Haret Hreik and Hadath.

"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, which the IDF will work against in the near future," Adraee said on Telegram.

"For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate the building and those adjacent to it immediately and move away from it for a distance of no less than 500 metres," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)