[indiscernible chattering] hello, everyone, and welcome to the Atlantic Council. Welcome to everyone here and those watching on cspan and our livestream. I am william wexler, and i lead Atlantic Councils work on the middle east. Im delighted to welcome you to. N event today this event is on the record, and please tweet if you are so inclined and if so, use the shapingsacntions we are here to learn more about hezbollah and its finances. Hezbollah is one of the most sophisticated terrorist organizations and stabilizing factor in the middle east. Iran reportedly provides the terrorist group with hundreds of millions of dollars annually. This money has advanced the iranian agenda, undermining balance, challenging the Lebanese Armed forces as the sole legitimate protector of the countrys security, providing ondemand proxy Ground Forces for iran;s moore in syria cup irans more in syria, maintaining top terrorist ability in the region and around the world, and directly threatening israel. But