Israel claims Hezbollah is hiding cash, gold in Beirut hospital's bunker
Tel Aviv/Beirut: The Israeli military has claimed that Hezbollah is storing hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold inside a bunker beneath the Al-Sahel hospital in Beirut. However, the military assured that it will not target the facility, despite ongoing airstrikes on Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesperson, stated during a televised briefing that intelligence gathered over years suggests the bunker was built by Hezbollah's former leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, before his death last month. Hagari alleged that the bunker is equipped to sustain extended stays and houses significant financial resources intended to fund attacks on Israel. He urged the Lebanese government and international organizations to intervene, warning that these assets could fuel terrorism.
Fadi Alameh, a Lebanese lawmaker from the Amal Movement and director of Al-Sahel hospital, dismissed the claims as baseless and defamatory. He invited the Lebanese Army to inspect the hospital, asserting that it contains only medical facilities, patients, and a morgue. Alameh also confirmed that the hospital is being evacuated as a precaution.
Reuters could not independently verify Israel’s claims, and Hezbollah has not yet responded to the allegations.
Meanwhile, Israel's military chief, Herzi Halevi, informed soldiers stationed in Lebanon that between Sunday and Monday, the Israeli Air Force had struck around 30 sites linked to Al-Qard al-Hassan, which Israel identifies as Hezbollah’s financial arm. Hagari added that these operations would continue, targeting Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, though the hospital itself will not be attacked.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
