Australia labels all of Hezbollah a terrorist organization

SYDNEY, Australia — Australia on Wednesday listed all of Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization,” extending an existing ban on armed units to the entire organization, which wields considerable power in Lebanon. 

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said that the Iran-backed Shi’ite group “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organizations,” and poses a “real” and “credible” threat to Australia.

Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist group by parts of the West, although some countries have been reluctant to sanction the group’s political wing, fearing it could destabilize Lebanon and hamper contacts with authorities.

Hezbollah defies easy definition — acting as part political party, part terrorist organization and part provider of basic services to Lebanon’s Shi’ite community. It is the only side that has to date refused to disarm since the country’s devastating civil war ended in 1990. 

Membership in the organization or providing funding for it will now be banned in Australia, which has a large Lebanese community.

No reason was given for the timing of the move, which comes as Lebanon reels from spiraling political and economic crises. Nearly 80% of the population is estimated to be living below the poverty line. 

Elections are expected in March 2022 and there is growing public anger about nepotism and corruption among Lebanon’s ruling class. 

Hezbollah is labeled a terrorist group by the United States, Israel and the Arab League, and Israel often calls on to other countries to follow suit. A growing number of countries have done so, and Saudi Arabia placed the organization’s financial arm on its terror blacklist last month.

Andrews also announced on Wednesday that Australia would be blacklisting far-right group The Base.

“They are a violent, racist neo-Nazi group known by security agencies to be planning and preparing terrorist attacks,” Andrews said. 

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.