A branch of al-Qard al-Hassan in the southern suburbs of Beirut, completely destroyed by Israeli strikes, on March 3, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour)
British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said on Tuesday that the UK is sanctioning the Hezbollah-run financial institution al-Qard al-Hassan, as he announced a trade ban on goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli strikes hit many branches of al-Qard al-Hassan in its 2024 and 2026 wars with Hezbollah. Already under U.S. sanctions since 2007 for terrorism financing, it has faced increasing scrutiny from Lebanese authorities and is widely regarded as Hezbollah’s financial arm. In November 2025, the Banque du Liban (central bank) issued a circular effectively prohibiting all financial institutions in the country from dealing with al-Qard al-Hassan.
British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said on Tuesday that the UK is sanctioning the Hezbollah-run financial institution al-Qard al-Hassan, as he announced a trade ban on goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli strikes hit many branches of al-Qard al-Hassan in its 2024 and 2026 wars with Hezbollah. Already under U.S. sanctions since 2007 for terrorism financing, it has faced increasing scrutiny from Lebanese authorities and is widely regarded as Hezbollah’s financial arm. In November 2025, the Banque du Liban (central bank) issued a circular effectively prohibiting all financial institutions in the country from dealing with al-Qard al-Hassan.
