WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today released the following statement on the announcement that the UK government will proscribe Hizballah as a terrorist organization:

“I applaud this step by the United Kingdom to call Hizballah what it really is: a terror group sowing chaos and instability in the Middle East. For too long, some have hesitated to tell this truth, instead trying to split hairs, saying the political and military wings of the organization are distinct entities. It’s a meaningless distinction. Hizballah in its entirety is a terror group and must be condemned as such. The group has carried out horrific, deadly violent attacks against the Jewish people, the state of Israel, European countries, the United states, and people around the world.

“The partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States is critical to the fight against terrorism and I look forward to continuing this special relationship in our transatlantic security efforts. Our cooperation makes us stronger and more resilient in the face of international terrorist threats.”

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