WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is applauding the European Union’s decision to label the military wing of Hezbollah a terrorist group.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says it sends a clear message that there are consequences for the Lebanese group’s terrorist activities, including a deadly attack last year in a Bulgarian resort and a plot to kill Israelis in Cyprus.
Carney says the EU decision will allow European officials to crack down on Hezbollah’s fundraising, logistics and terror plots in Europe.
He says Hezbollah threatens global stability. He’s specifically mentioning Hezbollah’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The EU’s 28 foreign ministers reached the decision unanimously on Monday. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah plays a pivotal role in Lebanese politics and has sent members to bolster Assad’s forces in their assault of rebel-held areas.
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Meanwhile, the Iranian regime condemned on Tuesday the European Union’s decision to put the armed wing of Lebanese group Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist and said the move was “contrary to all political and legal norms, surprising and unacceptable”, Reuters reported.
