Fri Dec 05 04:45:17 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Iraqi government has reversed its recent decision to designate Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels as terrorist organizations. This reversal, which comes just weeks after the initial designation, was attributed to an error made before proper review. The move followed pressure from Iran-aligned political factions and armed groups within Iraq, as well as public sentiment supporting the two groups as resistance movements against Israel. The situation highlights Iraq’s delicate balancing act between maintaining relations with the U.S. and Iran, especially amid regional tensions.
News Article:
Iraq Retracts Terror Designation for Hezbollah and Houthis After Uproar
Baghdad – December 5, 2025 – In a stunning reversal, the Iraqi government today retracted its recent designation of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels as terrorist organizations. The initial designation, published in the official gazette on November 17th, sparked immediate controversy and was quickly deemed an error by officials.
The government stated that the decision was made “before reviewing” the situation, acknowledging a critical oversight in the process. The reversal followed intense pressure from Iran-aligned political factions and armed groups within Iraq, who accused the government of jeopardizing regional alliances and risking confrontation with Tehran.
“The names of Hezbollah and the Houthis will be removed in a corrected publication of the official gazette,” a government statement declared. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered an investigation into the initial error.
The original designation, which included a national asset freeze order, was also met with widespread condemnation from the Iraqi public, many of whom view Hezbollah and the Houthis as legitimate resistance movements against Israel.
This incident underscores the precarious position Iraq finds itself in, caught between the influence of the United States, which has been urging Baghdad to clamp down on Iran-backed militias, and its own historical and political ties within the region. Anwar al-Musawi, an Iraqi political analyst, noted that the reversal highlights the long-standing “cooperation with the Houthis or the Lebanese Hezbollah [that] was part of Iraq’s policy.”
Neither Hezbollah nor the Houthis have yet released an official statement on the matter. The U.S. government has also not commented. The situation is being closely watched as it reflects the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Middle East.
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