The Americans and Israelis’ success in pushing the EU to finally include the military wing of Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations was something of a surprise to the party. It would have been a complete surprise had the EU regarded both Hezbollah's military and political wings as terrorist organizations.

Within the party, there is an assumption backed by reliable data that the EU decision is at best a compromise between the unbridled desire of the US to include Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations, and the desire of Europeans to mitigate US pressure exerted on them in this respect.

According to an internal Hezbollah source speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity on July 23, Hezbollah believes that the decision has no practical interpretation on the ground. The party’s military wing is deployed underground, in valleys and trenches, as well as among ordinary people. How, then, can European sanctions affect them and how can they be identified?

Hezbollah is aware that the EU decision was drafted under great American pressure.