Hezbollah suffers losses in Lebanon election, early results suggest

Hezbollah and its allies have lost seats to their main opponents in Lebanon’s parliamentary election, according to early results published on Monday.

Some of the Iran-backed group’s traditional partners were projected not to take any seats in the assembly at all, while its critics claimed to have scooped over a dozen.

The preliminary figures suggest independent candidates were making gains in the election, the first in the country since a devastating explosion tore through Beirut’s port in August 2020.

Thousands were injured and wide parts of the Lebanese capital destroyed in that blast, which was caused by poorly stored ammonium nitrate but widely blamed on negligence.

There are suggestions that Hezbollah and its allies could lose the parliamentary majority they won at the last election in 2018.

With votes still being counted, Hezbollah and the Amal were on track to retain the 27 seats allocated to the Shia sect.

But Hezbollah’s main Christian ally — the Free Patriotic Movement — has lost ground to the rival Christian Lebanese Forces party and independent candidates have won at least 10 seats.

Lebanese Forces, which is backed by Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia, said it was on track to become the largest Christian bloc in the 128-seat chamber.

Official results in the election are due later on Monday.