German Report: Evidence that Qatar Funds Hezbollah

Die Zeit says has evidence on Qatari funding for Hezbollah
Die Zeit says has evidence on Qatari funding for Hezbollah
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German Report: Evidence that Qatar Funds Hezbollah

Die Zeit says has evidence on Qatari funding for Hezbollah
Die Zeit says has evidence on Qatari funding for Hezbollah

Documents have shown that Qatar funds Hezbollah in Lebanon, German news outlet Die Zeit reported.

It said a German contractor, anonymously listed as “Jason G.”, has evidence that the Qatari government was aware of groups funding Hezbollah.

Jason G., who reportedly worked for various security and intelligence agencies and ran a business in Qatar, came across the information while working in Doha, according to the newspaper.

Qataris and Lebanese people sent money from Doha to Hezbollah, it said, adding that the donations have been processed with the knowledge of influential government officials through a charity organization in the Qatari capital.

The report also said that Jason G. had come across information of an arms deal from Eastern Europe that was being handled by a Qatar-based company.

Jason G. claimed he had held six meetings in Brussels with representatives from the Qatari government.

A number of times he received 10,000-euro payments and was later given another 100,000 euros to keep the report under wraps.

In July 2019, Jason G. reportedly entered a deal with Qatar, according to a contract seen by the newspaper, and which stipulated that the man would work as a consultant for Qatar and promise not to release his information in return for Doha not prosecuting him for espionage.

But the newspaper said that the agreement between Jason G. and Qatar fell through, despite an offer of 750,000 euros to keep the information quiet.

In April, Germany banned all Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated the Iran-backed group a terrorist organization.

It is also trying to push the European Union to do the same. The EU classifies Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing.

After April’s announcement, German police conducted raids on mosque associations in cities across Germany which officials believe are close to Hezbollah.

The domestic intelligence service in the German state of Bremen said last week the Al-Mustafa community center is involved in the financial support of Hezbollah.

The center was part of associations that were raided by German police in April.



Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025.  EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
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Syrians Rejoice during First Eid after Assad's Fall

Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025.  EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD
Hundreds of Syrian Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib, Syria, 31 March 2025. EPA/BILAL AL HAMMOUD

Eid al-Fitr in Syria was charged with newfound joy this year, as thousands freely celebrated the holiday for the first time after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

From the early morning hours, crowds of men, women and children flocked to pray at Damascus's historic Umayyad Mosque in the Old City.

"This is the first time we truly feel the joy of Eid, after getting rid of Assad's tyrannical regime," Fatima Othman told AFP.

Following prayer, worshippers exchanged Eid greetings while street vendors sold colorful balloons and toys to children posing for photos with their parents.

"Our celebration is doubled after Assad's fall," said Ghassan Youssef, a resident of the capital.

A few kilometers (miles) away, on the slopes of Mount Qasyun overlooking Damascus -- a site previously off-limits to Syrians until Assad was deposed on December 8 -- a few thousand people gathered at Unknown Soldier Square for an open-air prayer.

Among them were members of the security forces and the army, dressed in uniform and armed. The road leading to the square was packed, according to an AFP photographer.

Some worshippers distributed sweets to celebrate, while the three-star Syrian flag, adopted by the new authorities, waved in the air.

Under the previous government, access to the Unknown Soldier monument was typically restricted to Assad and his close associates, who would lay wreaths there during national ceremonies.

'Celebration of celebrations!'
The memorial, where a giant screen broadcast the Eid prayer, is near the presidential palace.

There, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa prayed alongside Syria's new mufti Osama al-Rifai and several cabinet ministers in the presence of a large crowd.

He later delivered a speech emphasizing the country faced "a long and arduous road to reconstruction but possesses all the resources needed to recover".

This came two days after the formation of a new government, which faces daunting challenges in a country devastated by 14 years of civil war.

Wael Hamamiya, who had been in Sweden since the early days of the conflict, returned to Damascus to celebrate Eid with his family.

"This is my first Eid here in nearly 15 years. I truly feel the celebration in its full meaning," he told AFP, beaming.

"Everyone who has come is over the moon. This is the celebration of celebrations!"

The occasion was more somber for some Syrians, who were able to visit the graves of loved ones that had been off-limits during Assad reign, especially in former opposition strongholds.

At al-Rawda Cafe in Damascus, 36-year-old Amer Hallaq chatted with friends after returning from exile in Berlin where he ended up after dodging compulsory military service in 2014.

"For years, I thought I'd never see my family again or celebrate Eid with them," Hallaq said.

"The joy of liberation and victory is immense, but there's still a lot of work ahead. This is only the beginning of the road."