Lebanese officials say Mossad likely behind assassination of Hezbollah-affiliated money changer

Hezbollah-linked money changer Mohammad Surour was found dead in a villa outside of the Lebanese capital Beirut last week.

Lebanese government officials indicated the death was likely the work of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.

In an interview on Lebanese television on Monday, Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said, “The finger is pointed at the Mossad, but we are monitoring the investigation.”

Surour was reportedly channeling funds from the Iranian government to the Hamas terrorist organization. In 2019, he was sanctioned by the U.S. for his involvement in the financial activities of the terror group.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Surour specifically for providing Hamas with “material, technological support, financial or other services,” and stated that he transferred “tens of millions of dollars per year” to Hamas from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Reuters reported that while Surour “has been seen at public events hosted by Hezbollah” he did “not appear to have a formal or senior role directly within the armed group.”

While Hezbollah is considered a legitimate political party within Lebanon itself, holding 15 seats in the Lebanese parliament, it has been designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union and a majority of Arab League members.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets into Israel, and around 100,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes on Israel's northern border with Lebanon.