Australia: “Hezbollah” is now terrorist organisation

Australia has designated Hezbollah, the Shiite group based in Lebanon and backed by Iran, as a “terrorist” organization.

The designation covers the entire group, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Hezbollah’s armed wing has been on the record for the year 2003.

In May, the United States had asked governments worldwide to take action against Hezbollah.

Last month, Saudi Arabia listed the Lebanon-based Al-Qard Al-Hassan organisation as a “terrorist” entity, referring to activities supporting Hezbollah.

Australia also placed the global neo-Nazi organisation The Base as a “terrorist” organization, making membership a crime.

“The government has zero-tolerance for violence and there is no reason, religious or ideological, that can justify the murder of innocent people,” Internal Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said in a statement announcing the new classifications.

ABC said Australia’s national intelligence agency was increasingly concerned about right-wing extremism and white supremacists, with members of The Base now accounting for about a third of its investigations.

The UK and Canada have already added the organization to their “terrorist” lists.

Before Wednesday’s announcement, Australia had classified 26 groups as “terrorist” organizations, including ISIL (ISIS), Boko Haram and Abu Sayyaf.