Hezbollah is grappling with a significant financial collapse, as its revenue streams have been severely disrupted. Once thriving on a network of smuggling routes and covert financial support, the group is now facing a dramatic loss of resources that had previously sustained its operations. This downturn is exacerbated by the closure of key financial channels, including the Syrian border crossings, and the increasing international scrutiny of its activities.

Hezbollah had long maintained a stronghold in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, where it was actively involved in managing illicit border crossings. These operations were either directly controlled by the party or coordinated through affiliated groups, often bypassing Lebanese authorities. The smuggling operations fueled by these illegal crossings not only supported Hezbollah financially but also intensified security tensions in the region, contributing to instability within Lebanon.

However, the situation has shifted dramatically. The new Syrian administration has taken control of these crossings and has worked to dismantle the smuggling routes that had long benefited Hezbollah.

"These crossings are no longer operational due to the Syrian administration's control. They have been shut down in an effort to fight the widespread trafficking that has plagued both Lebanon and Syria," a knowledgeable source told Sawt Beirut International. "This has cut off one of the party's most significant sources of income, which was essential alongside Iranian financial support."

The closure of these smuggling routes, along with the heightened international scrutiny of Hezbollah's activities, has compounded the group’s financial woes. With Lebanon's Rafik Hariri International Airport now under international oversight, Hezbollah is no longer able to use the airport as a conduit for smuggling funds from Iran, further isolating the group financially.

"Even Rafic Hariri Airport, one of the gateways Hezbollah used to funnel Iranian money without oversight, is now heavily monitored," said the source. "This has left the group with virtually no means to access the funds that once sustained its operations."

In response to the growing financial pressure, Hezbollah supporters have resorted to protests, including the closure of key roads around Beirut’s airport, allegedly under the direct orders of Wafiq Safa, a senior party official. These actions, which disrupted daily life and amplified the tension in the region, were seen as a desperate move by the group as it faces mounting challenges on multiple fronts.

Despite these efforts, Hezbollah remains trapped in a severe financial crisis, with little recourse available. Iran, which has long been a key financial backer of Hezbollah, has struggled to continue sending funds through traditional channels. The Iranian government now relies on citizens returning from Tehran to carry money into Lebanon, but this method has proven ineffective, with the airport's heightened surveillance making it nearly impossible to smuggle funds undetected.

The shutdown of these key financial lifelines, coupled with Hezbollah's inability to access its main sources of income, has left the party vulnerable, unable to maintain its operations at previous levels. As the financial crisis deepens, the group finds itself facing unprecedented challenges, with no immediate solution in sight.

This is an English adaptation of an Arabic article published by Sawt Beirut International.