Architect of Iranian Missiles Assassinated in Syria

A photo published by pro-Syrian sites on the funeral of Aziz Asbar in the town of Wadi al-Oyoun on Sunday.
A photo published by pro-Syrian sites on the funeral of Aziz Asbar in the town of Wadi al-Oyoun on Sunday.
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Architect of Iranian Missiles Assassinated in Syria

A photo published by pro-Syrian sites on the funeral of Aziz Asbar in the town of Wadi al-Oyoun on Sunday.
A photo published by pro-Syrian sites on the funeral of Aziz Asbar in the town of Wadi al-Oyoun on Sunday.

There have been conflicting reports on the murder of the head of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center in Masyaf, Aziz Asbar, who is known for being close to Iran.

Syria’s opposition considers Asbar responsible for the development of barrel bombs, which regime forces have dropped on civilians in the past years.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that Asbar had been killed and said it was not yet clear which side "carried out the assassination of one of the figures close to the leaders of Iran, the Lebanese ‘Hezbollah’, and the Syrian regime.”

The Observatory said the Syrian scientist was killed along with his driver in a booby-trapped vehicle blast in Masyaf area in the western countryside of Hama on Saturday night.

While Iranian media outlets accused Israel of orchestrating the attack, Syrian official news agencies did not publish any information about Asbar’s killing.

Syrian pro-government newspaper Al-Watan published a brief report confirming that Asbar "died with is driver after an explosion targeted their car in the Hama countryside."

Israeli news agencies said Asbar was involved in Syria's chemical weapons development as well as in the Iranian Fateh missiles program, and that he worked on the development of medium- and long-range missiles.

Asbar was responsible for the Inter Coordination Committee on the transport of weapons between Syria, Iran and ‘Hezbollah’. He also supervised the production of non-traditional weapons at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center in Masyaf, including nerve gas.

The official radio in Tel Aviv said the name of Asbar had emerged during the past years on the US sanctions lists for his responsibility in “developing and producing Iranian long-range missiles.”

Meanwhile, ISIS executed a teen kidnapped during the attacks on Suweida and its eastern and northeastern countryside last month.

The Observatory said the terrorist group executed a 19-year-old boy from al-Shabaki village, who was among more than 30 children, teenagers, and women abducted by ISIS during its attacks on the area.

The execution led to fears on the possibility that the terrorist group would kill other hostages in the coming days.



Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
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Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Lebanon's central bank has banned banks and brokerages from dealing with a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution, according to a circular, a sign of the group's diminished sway over state affairs since its devastating war with Israel.

Keeping up military pressure on the Iran-backed group, Israel on Tuesday launched some of its heaviest airstrikes since a ceasefire in November, saying it hit training camps and weapons depots in east Lebanon. A security source in Lebanon said 12 people were killed, five of them Hezbollah fighters, Reuters reported.

Hezbollah has faced mounting pressures since the war, including financial ones.

In the circular, dated July 14 and reviewed by Reuters, Banque du Liban prohibited all licensed financial institutions in Lebanon from dealing directly or indirectly with unlicensed entities and listed Hezbollah's Al-Qard Al-Hassan as an example.

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Qard Al-Hassan in 2007, saying Hezbollah used it as a cover to manage "financial activities and gain access to the international financial system".

Bolstered by its powerful arsenal, Hezbollah had long exercised decisive influence over Lebanese state affairs, but it was unable to impose its will in the formation of a post-war government in February.

Al-Qard Al-Hassan, founded in 1983, describes itself as a charitable organisation which provides loans to people according to Islamic principles that forbid interest. Israel struck some of its branches during its war with Hezbollah last year.

Operating as a not-for-profit organisation under a licence granted by the Lebanese government, it has more than 30 branches, mostly in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

SHADOW ECONOMY

A Lebanese official said the central bank move had been in the works for months, and reflected US pressure on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah's financial wing.

Nassib Ghobril, chief economist at Byblos Bank, said Lebanese banks were already careful to avoid dealing with Al-Qard Al-Hassan because it is under US sanctions.

"The important point is that finally the authorities are addressing the shadow economy in Lebanon, which is the real problem," he said, adding that authorities had long failed to address its "toxic effects".

In June, the European Commission included Lebanon in an updated list of high-risk jurisdictions presenting strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

Last year, global financial crime watchdog FATF placed Lebanon on its "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.