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Police descended on several mosques and cultural centers - believed to be linked to Hezbollah - in Berlin as well as North Rhine-Westphalia and Bremen. Flats occupied by their leaders, treasurers, and tax advisers were also searched.

© REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeGerman police raid premises of an association linked to Hezbollah in Berlin

Germany began to float the idea of banning Hezbollah last year, with the debate being fueled by US Ambassador Richard Grenell. The notorious envoy blasted the "artificial distinction," insisting that "Hezbollah makes no such distinction."

The center-right CDU and CSU parties teamed up with the Social Democrats and the liberal Free Democrats, submitting a corresponding request to the government in December 2019.

© REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeGerman special police team gather near the El-Irschad (Al-Irschad e.V.) centre in Berlin

The US, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, and the UK all banned Hezbollah back in March 2019.

Founded in the 1980s during Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon, the Shia organization has risen to prominence within Lebanese politics, taking part in governing coalitions while maintaining its armed presence along the border with Israel.

"The decision of the German government is completely disrespectful to the government and people of Lebanon since Hezbollah is an official and legitimate part of the government and the parliament", Mousavi said in a statement.

On 30 April, spokesman for the German Interior Ministry Steve Alter said that Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the activities of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement across the country.

In addition, the lawmakers insisted that the government, together with international partners, take measures to reduce the influence of Hezbollah in the Middle East, especially in Syria. However, they requested a ban of only the movement's activities and not the movement itself, since the existence of social and organizational structures of Hezbollah in Germany has not been established.

"Syria strongly condemns the German government's decision to recognize Hezbollah as a terrorist organization", the ministry said, as quoted by the SANA news agency. According to Damascus, Germany's decision was taken under the pressure of Israel and the United States.

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