BREAKING: Germany Bans Hezbollah, Raids Underway Against Members

Moments ago, German Interior Ministry said that a ban was imposed on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group which will be also designated a terrorist organization.

Mean while, the police has conducted raids on four associations early this morning to arrest people suspected of being members of the group. Security officials believe that up to 1050 people in Germany are members of a radical wing of Hezbollah.

A spokesperson of the German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer explained that "police measures are underway in several federal states concurrently," adding that even in times of crisis, the "rule of law is able to act."

According to DW, the police raids are focused on four associations in Berlin, Dortmund, Bremen and Münster accused of belonging to Hezbollah.

In 2013, EU foreign ministers banned Hezbollah's military wing but not its political work in Europe. As a result, sanctions can be imposed on its military leaders. Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah’s political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s army in Syria.

Last September, federal prosecutors were given the authority to open criminal cases against members of a foreign terror organization, and in December, Germany’s parliament approved a motion urging the government to ban all activities by Hezbollah on German soil, citing its “terrorist activities” especially in Syria.

Last year, the British government has designated Hezbollah’s political wing a terrorist organization.

“Hezbollah is continuing in its attempts to destabilise the fragile situation in the Middle East, and we are no longer able to distinguish between their already banned military wing and the political party,” then home secretary Sajid Javid said.

The UK had previously made a distinction between the Lebanese Shia group’s military and political branches.

Hezbollah was founded in the early 1980's with the support of Iran, and spent much of its early existence fighting the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.

As reported by the Independent, today, Hezbollah is the most powerful armed group in Lebanon, surpassing even the country’s national army. That military power has given it a significant influence over the government’s decision making.