UK’s Hezbollah Ban May Signal Tougher Stance on Iran

Atlantic Council

UANI Research Analyst on Lebanon and Hezbollah David Daoud writes: "Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah once dubbed dividing his group into distinct political and military wings an 'English innovation.' Yet, last week, the United Kingdom decided to end this mainstay of British policy. Shortly after Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a total ban on Hezbollah, Parliament amended the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 to proscribe the group 'in its entirety.' London’s acknowledgment of Hezbollah’s unity aligns British law and policy with the United States. In doing so, the UK is signaling a partial departure from Europe’s approach to the group’s patron, Iran, but more importantly, a third way between American confrontation and European conciliation."