Lebanon’s central bank has prohibited all brokerages and banks from doing business with Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a Hezbollah-affiliated financial entity, in a fresh circular on July 14, 2025. The action comes as pressure mounts on Hezbollah militarily and financially, particularly following its just-ended war with Israel. Al-Qard Al-Hassan bills itself as a charity that provides interest-free loans but has been sanctioned by the U.S. since 2007 for facilitating Hezbollah’s access to the international financial system. The U.S. hailed the ban as a move toward financial openness. Lebanese banks had already boycotted the group because it is sanctioned. The ban is symbolic of a wider attempt to stem Lebanon’s shadow economy and clean up its reputation in international finance. Lebanon is presently grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and was recently listed by the EU as a high-risk third country for money laundering. The move by the central bank indicates decreased Hezbollah control over Lebanon’s financial and political systems.
Pray for improved anti-money laundering standards in Lebanon. Pray for the success of the efforts of the Lebanese government against money laundering allegations and the shadow economy across the nation. Pray for economic stability in the country (The Holy Bible, Psalm 64:2).
Pray against all the illicit financial support systems of Hezbollah and other terrorist groups. Pray for transparency in Lebanon’s financial and political systems (The Holy Bible, Psalm 9:16).
News Source: Reuters
Image Source: Canva
