EU declares Hezbollah’s military wing terror group

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, right, talks with Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino, center, and Malta’s Foreign Minister George Vella during the EU foreign ministers meeting, at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, July 22, 2013. EU foreign ministers were set Monday to tackle the thorny question of whether Hezbollah’s military wing should be blacklisted as a terrorist organization, at a meeting in Brussels that is also due to feature talks on Egypt and Syria. AP

BRUSSELS — The European Union has declared the military wing of Lebanese party Hezbollah a terrorist group.

A French diplomat says that the Monday decision by the EU’s 28 foreign ministers was reached unanimously. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The Iranian-backed group plays a pivotal role in Lebanese politics, dominating the government since 2011, and has since sent its members to bolster Syria’s President Bashar Assad forces in their assault of rebel-held areas.