Washington welcomes Australia's Decision on Hezbollah
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US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price welcomes Australia's decision to declare all of Hezbollah a terrorist organization, and to remove the distinction between its wings.
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Ned Price: Australia's action is a step forward
On Friday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price welcomed Australia’s intention to declare Hezbollah in its entirety "a terrorist organization," describing the action of "erasing the erroneous distinction between Hizballah’s military wing and the rest of the terrorist organization" as a "critical step forward."
The US state department said in a statement that Hezbollah "is a dangerous terrorist organization that threatens the safety of the international community and undermines the sovereignty of the Lebanese state."
It added that "the organization’s" robust capabilities are major obstacles to "peace and stability in Lebanon, in the Middle East and around the world," concluding that this action is an important step toward countering Hezbollah’s "ability to operate in Australia and abroad."
Australia designates Hezbollah a “Terrorist" Organization
Australia on Wednesday listed Hezbollah in its entirety as a "terrorist organization", extending a current ban on its military wing to include the entire movement.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said that Hezbollah “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organizations", posing a "real" and "credible" threat to Australia, according to AFP.
Membership in the entire organization, as well as funding for it, will now be prohibited in Australia, which has a large Lebanese community.
Hezbollah: Australia's decision will not affect our stance and right to resistance
Hezbollah condemned the Australian authorities’ decision to classify it as a “terrorist organization”, considering it “a humiliating submission to American and Zionist dictates.”
The party stressed in a statement that this decision "will not affect the morale of our loyal people in Lebanon, the morale of the free people of the world, the position of Hezbollah and its natural right to resistance, nor its support to resistance movements."
