The Australian government on Wednesday classified all of Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization”. Until now, this classification only covered the armed units of this group which controls a large part of Lebanon. Powerful Iran-backed Shiite movement “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and support terrorist organizations” and poses a “real” and “credible” threat to Australia, Home Secretary Karen said Andrews.
A powerful militia supported and armed by Iran
The United States and Israel have long included Hezbollah on their respective lists of terrorist groups. But other countries refuse to sanction the political wing of the group, fearing that this will hamper their relations with the Lebanese authorities or destabilize the country.
Hezbollah, represented in the Lebanese Parliament, is also the only faction not to have abandoned its military arsenal at the end of the civil war (1975-1990). It has a powerful militia backed and armed by Iran, which has employed it in its proxy wars in the region. Membership of the organization or its funding will now be banned in Australia, where a large Lebanese community lives.
The Morrison Government intends to list the entirety of Hizballah and racist neo-Nazi group The Base as terrorist organizations under the criminal code. I will continue to take strong action to keep Australians safe from terrorism. pic.twitter.com/P1BW59WKzp
– Karen Andrews MP (@karenandrewsmp) November 24, 2021
US, Israel welcome Australia’s move
Naftali Bennett, Israeli Prime Minister, welcomed Canberra’s decision, calling his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison “a friend”. “Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist organization responsible for countless attacks in Israel and across the world,” he tweeted.
Matthew Levitt, former head of the US Treasury, now a Middle East specialist at the Washington Institute, told AFP that this decision was “long overdue”. In June, in front of the Australian Parliament, he had considered “insufficient” the way in which the organization had been classified until then, considering that “Hezbollah is structured and functions like a singular organization”. “In recent years, a list of Hezbollah terrorist plots and illicit financial schemes have involved Australian citizens and / or activity on Australian soil,” he said.
Lebanon stuck in a deep crisis
No reason has been given to explain this announcement, which comes at a time when Lebanon is plunged into a deep economic and political crisis. The Lebanese, nearly 80% of whom live below the poverty line, are struggling to survive with limited income, endless power cuts, various shortages which notably affect fuel, and very high inflation.
Legislative elections are scheduled for March 2022 as part of the population demands a renewal of the political elite, accused of nepotism and corruption.
In December 2018, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison decided to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He had raised this possibility a little earlier, a few days before a by-election but crucial for his narrow majority, hoping to seduce the Jewish electorate.
“No division between the political and military branch of the organization”
On Wednesday, the Israeli embassy in Canberra welcomed the interior minister’s announcement, saying “there is no division between the political and military branches of the terrorist organization Hezbollah.” “This recognition is essential to combat the enduring threat of terrorism,” she added.
Karen Andrews has also announced the inclusion of “The Base”, a far-right group, on the list of terrorist organizations. “This is a violent and racist neo-Nazi group that the security services know is planning and preparing terrorist attacks,” said the minister.