US applauds EU's move to blacklist Hezbollah military wing

The United States on Monday applauded the European Union (EU) for putting the military wing of Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist. "With today's action, the EU is sending a strong message to Hezbollah that it cannot operate with impunity, and that there are consequences for its actions," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. "This designation will have a significant impact on Hezbollah's ability to operate freely in Europe by enabling European law enforcement agencies to crack down on Hezbollah's fundraising, logistical activity and terrorist plotting on European soil," Kerry said. The United States and Israel, which have branded Hezbollah as a terrorist group, have been calling on Europe to follow suit for years, and the group's recent involvement in the conflict in neighboring Syria, in support of President Bashar al-Assad, made some reluctant EU members change their positions. Last week, Lebanon urged Brussels not to blacklist Hezbollah on the grounds that the group is an "essential component of Lebanese society." Jen Psaki, Kerry's spokeswoman, said Washington does not differentiate between different wings of Hezbollah. "The branches share common funding, personnel and leadership, but we still feel this is a positive step forward, applaud them for taking this important step, and think it will have an impact on the ground," she said at a regular press briefing. Hezbollah functions both as a political party which is part of the Lebanese government and as a militia with thousands of armed guerrillas. The group rejected the EU's "aggressive and unjust decision which is not based on any proof or evidence," it said in a statement, adding that EU states had taken a dangerous step at the behest of the United States and Israel. Also in the day, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appealed to the EU to reconsider its decision that blacklists Hezbollah.