Argentina Designates Hezbollah a Terror Organization 25 Years After Deadly Attack
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JERUSALEM, Israel - Argentina designated Hezbollah a terror organization Thursday, 25 years to the day after terrorists blew up the AMIA Jewish Community Center, killing 85 people and wounding 300 others.
Argentina also blames the Iranian-backed Hezbollah for killing 29 people in an attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992.
Hezbollah and Iran deny responsibility for the attacks.
The Argentine government's Financial Information Unit ordered the freezing of Hezbollah assets in the country.
"At present, Hezbollah continues to represent a current threat to security and the integrity of the economic and financial order of the Argentine Republic," the unit said in a statement.
U.S. and Argentine officials say Hezbollah conducts business in Latin America to fund its operations in other parts of the world.
The decision coincided with a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Argentina is the first Latin American country to designate Hezbollah a terror organization.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Mauricio Macri for the designation.
"It is time the entire enlightened world understand the grave danger Iran and Hezbollah pose. It is time the entire world stand up against it," Netanyahu said.
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