US designates Hezbollah as an extension of IRGC, says group is not independent Lebanese movement

The United States government has redesignated Hezbollah under Executive Order 13224, formally identifying the Lebanese group as an operational extension of the IRGC-Quds Force. A State Department official told i24NEWS that this move marks a shift in Washington's characterization, emphasizing that Hezbollah is not a stand-alone organization but an integral part of Iran's military and security apparatus. Under this designation, future sanctions targeting the IRGC will also directly impact Hezbollah. The official stated that by swearing loyalty to Iran's Supreme Leader, Hezbollah remains under the decisive influence of the Quds Force regarding its military and strategic decisions. Washington rejected the group's portrayal as a Lebanese resistance movement, labeling it instead as a primary source of instability in Lebanon and an obstacle to the country's sovereignty and economic recovery. The U.S. affirmed its commitment to disrupting the financial and logistical networks that Tehran utilizes through Hezbollah to advance its regional agenda.