US Sanctions Bill Aims to Curb Hezbollah’s Destabilizing Regional Influence

A UN patrol drives past a Hezbollah flag and a concrete barrier in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A UN patrol drives past a Hezbollah flag and a concrete barrier in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
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US Sanctions Bill Aims to Curb Hezbollah’s Destabilizing Regional Influence

A UN patrol drives past a Hezbollah flag and a concrete barrier in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A UN patrol drives past a Hezbollah flag and a concrete barrier in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Democratic and Republican representatives have urged the European Union to include the Lebanese Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations.

US Rep. Ted Deutch, the chairman of the US House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, introduced a resolution, saying in a statement: “Currently, the EU only includes Hezbollah’s military wing – and not its political wing – on its list of sanctioned terrorist organizations.”

“The United States makes no distinction between its branches and includes Hezbollah in its entirety on the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list.”

“When you are dealing with a ruthless terrorist organization like Hezbollah, there is no distinction between political and militant wings,” Deutch stated.

He lauded many European countries for taking action to ban Hezbollah, as the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council have also done.

“But we need the European Union to cease allowing Hezbollah’s so-called political wing to freely operate by joining us in fully targeting this terrorist group and its global criminal network,” Deutch added.

US Rep. Kathy Manning stressed the importance of the bill, saying Hezbollah was a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East and around the world.

“The influence of the party and its role in dismantling Lebanon is devastating, as it enhances Iran’s destabilizing influence and threatens the entire region,” she said.



Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
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Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel.

"I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war.

Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace and Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Hezbollah has condemned Israel's strikes on Iran and expressed full solidarity with its leadership.

Hezbollah on Thursday expressed support for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following threats by Israeli leaders that he could be killed.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that “threats to assassinate (Khamenei) are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.”

But the group has stopped short of making explicit threats to intervene.

Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist" after an Israeli hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack.

"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed -- he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal," Israel Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv. "Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."

Killing Khamenei would "end the conflict" between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.