IN 2016, the 22 members states of the Arab League joined hands in labeling Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Eight years later, the story changed after the pan-Arab body recently removed Hezbollah from its terror list.
Hossam Zaki, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League said the designation no longer applies.
The Arab League denied softening its stance towards the Lebanon-based group and maintained the bloc’s position towards national security in the region and in combating terrorism.
The move also marked the first contact between the Arab League and Hezbollah in more than ten years.
The pan-Arab body labeled the group a terror organization in March 2016 shortly after the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) took the same step.
Experts claimed the decision was a big win for Iran as the Islamic Republic aims to strengthen its proxy group in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, tensions between Hezbollah and Lebanon escalated in recent months, with the neighboring archenemies to have exchanged more than 7,000 strikes since October.
Both sides have also exchanged threats of an all-out conflict.
The deputy leader of Hezbollah said that a ceasefire and full withdrawal of troops in Gaza will result in the escalating cross-border fire to stop at the Israel-Lebanon border.
