Germany designated Hezbollah a “Shiite terrorist organisation” on Thursday as its security forces raided mosques and associations linked to the group.
In a televised speech, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called it a “political decision that reflects Germany’s submission to America’s will and to pleasing Israel”.
“When we say we are not active in Germany, we are being 100 per cent honest,” said the leader of the Iranian-backed group.
Hezbollah was established in 1982 during the Lebanese civil war and fought a devastating 2006 war with Israel.
Like the European Union, Germany had until now outlawed only Hezbollah’s military wing while tolerating its political arm, a major force in the Lebanese parliament.