Operation Greed. Part 1

Late 2006.

The second war between Israel and Lebanon had ended a few months back. Israel's economy has to take big hit but lebanon's economy was in shambles, especially Beirut and other villages in Southern Lebanon had converted in debris.

But in between all this havoc, Salah Ezzedine was living a life of unimaginable luxury and vanity. This 46 year old, filthy rich man was born in a small town named, Maaroub. A town just 13 miles away from Northern Israel

In a Roman styled Palace living like a king, Salah Ezzedine had only 2 dreams. First to rapidly increase his wealth, and second to use this wealth to make friends with top leaders of Hezbollah.

And to realise his dreams he was doing everything he can, be it right or wrong. He was rapidly rising on the socio-economic ladder not knowing that someone has set its eyes on him.

A man who was set to use Ezzedine as a pawn to destroy Hezbollah's economy completely.

The man who is nicknamed as grandmaster in world of espionage was going to play this game with Hezbollah on the cusp of diplomacy, in which the person in front is checkmated before he can be checked.

After Israel's second war with Lebanon, there was only destruction from Beirut to southern Lebanon.

Hundreds of thousand of houses, families were destroyed and all this ended up as uprising and hatred towards Hezbollah.

Even the intellectual and political societies were critical of Hezbollah. But before this idea could hit masses at large, Hezbollah started re-construction of homes. Hezbollah did everything to calm these people by building homes, giving away sedan cars, liquor and was quite successful in garnering public support.

After seeing this happen, Meir Dagan, Mossad Chief was troubled.

He didn't quite understand, how can the people of Lebanon support an organization that was responsible for this destruction.

Second thing he didn't understand was, how can Hezbollah, which became bankrupt because of the war have this surprise flow of cash.

In between this thought process, Meir Dagan calls an intelligence officer Uri L. Dagan and tells,

Meir Dagan: I don't know how it will happen but I want to con Hezbollah.

As soon as he receives the order, officer Uri, with his team, starts to weaken Hezbollah's economic nexus.

The operations' start was near the end of 2006.

Year 2007 was just to come and a very serious economic crisis was swallowing The United States of America.

Each day The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal published report of the con artists of the Wall Street, duping millions or rather billions of dollars.

One day, Officer Uri is reviewing these reports, when an idea comes to his mind. "To destroy a businessman, it's better to rob him of his wealth than to kill him".

2007,

New Year's Day,

South Lebanon.

Salah Azidine's house, living in a small village in South Lebanon, was such that even the villain of James Bond's film would have been jealous to death.

The walls of this castle, made up of stone and steel had beautiful carving. The front gate was fully automatic and only one security guard hd its controls. Even his room was bigger than most of the houses of the village.

There were numerous musical fountains in his garden with lush green grass.

Hundreds of guards handling automatic and melee weapons, guarding his mansion.

Ezzedine, who can literally make anything of gold was very attracted towards Hezbollahs' ideology. And had a lot of dealings with Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General, Hezbollah.

He even had a travel agency, who sent the top officials of Hezbollah to Mecca and Madina on his own cost.

He had a publishing house that helped in spreading the ideology of Hezbollah and even printed books for schools run by Hezbollah and a radio station used for running Hezbollah's propoganda.

Apart from being a genius investor he was a very good marketer. And to get in Hezbollah's good books, both his printing press and radio station's names were, Hadi.

This Hadi was Hadi Nasarallah, Son of Hassan Nasarallah. Hadi was killed in 1997 while fighting against Israel. And just because of these tactics he was soon accepted into the top ranks of Hezbollah.

In some years his contacts with Hezbollah's political, economic, military circle became secure.

He bacame so radical that before starting any new work he always got blessings of religious leaders of Hezbollah beforehand.

And because of this happiness, he started spending his money just like water for Hezbollah. Didn't knowing what future had for him.

To Be Continued.

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