South Lebanon votes in municipal election seen as test of Hezbollah support
Voters in southern Lebanon are casting their ballots in municipal elections seen as a test of support for Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim political and armed group.
The vote on Saturday in the mostly Shia area, where Hezbollah is allied with Amal – the party led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – marks the final phase of Lebanon's staggered local elections.
It comes after a November 2024 ceasefire between the group and Israel was supposed to end months of attacks. lsrael, however, has continued sporadic strikes as recently as on Thursday, when air raids hit multiple locations in the south.
Both Hezbollah and Amal are widely expected to dominate the municipal races, having already secured control of numerous councils unopposed.
Turnout was high in border villages ravaged by last year's conflict, with residents of Kfar Kila – a town nearly levelled by Israeli attacks – voting in nearby Nabatieh. Others from surrounding areas cast ballots in Tyre.
'The will of life is stronger than death and the will of construction is stronger than destruction,' Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told reporters on Saturday, as he made a tour of the country's south. He said he voted for the first time in 40 years in his hometown of Aaichiyeh.
Among those heading to the polls were Hezbollah members still recovering from a series of Israeli attacks in September 2024, when thousands of pagers exploded nearly simultaneously, killing more than a dozen people and wounding nearly 3,000.
'Southerners are proving again that they are with the choice of resistance,' Hezbollah legislator Ali Fayyad, who represents border villages, said in Nabatieh.The vote comes at a critical time for Hezbollah. While the group emerged from the conflict with reduced military capabilities and diminished political leverage, the elections offer a platform to reaffirm its influence in the region.
'Lebanon has still not fully recovered from last year's war between Hezbollah and Israel. In fact, Israel continues to target Hezbollah despite a ceasefire,' said Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Nabatieh.
'Hezbollah, no doubt was militarily weakened during the conflict; it lost a lot of its military power but it is using these elections as an opportunity to show that it still has political influence,' Khodr added.
Many feel Hezbollah failed to shield them during the war, yet fears of isolation persist, she said. 'They feel vulnerable … not just towards Israel, but also in a deeply divided country and they feel that opponents of Hezbollah are also marginalising the community as a whole.'
Lebanon's new government has pledged to create a state monopoly on arms, raising pressure on Hezbollah to disarm as required under the United States-brokered truce with Israel.
Lebanon now faces the massive task of rebuilding after 14 months of war, with the World Bank estimating its reconstruction needs at more than $11bn.
In October 2023, Hezbollah launched a rocket campaign on Israel in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which was being bombarded by Israel following a surprise attack led by Palestinian group Hamas.
Israel responded with shelling and air attacks on Lebanon that escalated into a full-blown war before the ceasefire went into effect in late November.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Momentum builds for Israel-Syria peace as Trump reboots regional diplomacy
For the first time, Syrians are openly calling for peace with Israel. In an interview with Fox News Digital, journalist Furat Alali from Damascus said, "We want a future without wars. We want to live. People are not afraid to speak up anymore." Her statement reflects a significant shift in the country's political landscape, as many Syrians begin to openly discuss the prospect of peace with Israel. This change comes at a time when Syria and Israel are engaged in direct talks as Reuters revealed on Tuesday, marking a dramatic departure from the decades-long hostility between the two nations. Reuters reported, Israel and Syria have recently held direct meetings focused on security issues along their shared border. These talks represent a major step in the relationship between the two countries, which have been adversaries for decades. A Weakened Hezbollah Leads Some In Lebanon To Talk Of Peace With Israel As Us Pushes Sides Together Sources familiar with the discussions have indicated that the U.S. has played a pivotal role in facilitating these talks, encouraging Syria's new leadership to engage with Israel. The discussions come after a shift in U.S. policy, following President Donald Trump's meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa earlier this month. The meeting signaled a break from decades of U.S. hostility toward Syria's Assad regime and opened the door to potential normalization between Syria and Israel. Read On The Fox News App While the talks are still in the early stages, Trump's engagement has raised the possibility of Syria's leadership eventually normalizing ties with Israel, although this process will likely take time. Furat Alali explained: "We don't want to be part of the Axis of Resistance anymore. The Palestinian cause has been used to oppress us. We feel sympathy for the Palestinians, but now we need to focus on Syria and our future." Lina Ali, a 24-year-old pharmacist from Latakia, told Fox News Digital, "We feel for the people of Gaza. We condemn the mass killings, but we are in a different situation. We are thinking about our own interests now. The idea of exploiting the Palestinian cause to oppress the Syrian people has been rejected. We are tired of this." Another young woman interviewed by Jusoor News, a Pan-Arab media outlet, shared similar thoughts: "We are for anything that serves our country's interest. We've lived through difficult times. The country's economy is very weak. It's time for people to live." Fall Of Syria's Bashar Assad Is Strategic Blow To Iran And Russia, Experts Say An elderly Syrian man explained to Jusoor, "We've spent 40-50 years preaching Arabism and liberating Palestine, and what do we have to show for it? Nothing. It's time for peace." The shift in Syria's stance on Israel is significant, especially given the historical enmity between the two nations. For decades, Syria and Israel have been locked in conflict, with the status of the Golan Heights remaining a key point of contention since its capture by Israel during the 1967 war. Syria's involvement in the Axis of Resistance, aligning with Iran and Hezbollah against Israel, has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. However, the recent emergence of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has raised new possibilities, as well as concerns. Furat Ali said, "I was one of the journalists who extensively covered the violations of Jabhat al-Nusra before the fall of the Assad regime, the group Al-Jolani emerged from (using his previous name), which was part of al-Qaeda. I know exactly what they did. So, when I first heard that Al-Jolani was taking over Aleppo and challenging Assad, I was scared." "But as time went on," she added, "when he rebranded himself as Ahmed al-Sharaa and promised a new direction, I saw he was smart. He managed to convince the West to lift sanctions and engage with him, bringing back international recognition for Syria. While we remain skeptical and cautious, what we're seeing from Sharaa domestically is so far being accepted." Joseph Braude, founder and president of the Center for Peace Communications, highlighted the significance of the shift in public opinion within Syria. He noted, "People in Syria and Lebanon often associate the Palestinian issue with dictators who exploited it to justify corruption and brutality. There is a growing rejection of pro-Palestinian militancy, as many people now desire to turn the page and focus on new partnerships aimed at developing their own countries. "We believe that it has become a majority view in Syria that if peace with Israel brings economic development and improvements, then it's worth pursuing." He also pointed out that in countries dominated by Iran and its militias, ordinary people have the clearest understanding of the harm these groups cause. "They are among the most eager for a different future, increasingly calling for peace," Braude added. As one man interviewed by Jusoor News put it: "We've suffered years of oppression and war. It's time for reconstruction. We need peace with everyone," another Syrian added' "I support normalization a million percent! If normalization with Israel, or America or whoever can bring us comfort, then I'm on board. We just want peace!"Original article source: Momentum builds for Israel-Syria peace as Trump reboots regional diplomacy
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Defense Ministry awards security prize to 'movie-like' systems behind Nasrallah killing
"These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah,' Israel Katz said. Defense MinisterIsrael Katz will award the Israel Security Prize for 2025 to the "Eitan" Armoured personnel carrier, the "Oron", "Shavit", and "Eitam" aircraft, and unique capabilities that led to the killing of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the Defense Ministry stated on Thursday. "A tremendous contribution to the country's security. These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah,' Katz said. 'I congratulate the winners who continue to ensure Israel's security – today and in the future." The Eitan APC is an 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carrier designed for infantry fighters, allowing operations in highly threatening combat scenarios. The Eitan has played a significant role in the Israel-Hamas War, including participating in the rescue of hostages from Gaza. The prize for the Eitan APC will be awarded to the military directorates responsible for its development and production, including the Merkava and Armored Corps Directorate (MANTAK), the Security Procurement Administration (MAHAR), the Weaponry Division, the Operational Mobility School of the Ground Corps, the Medical Corps in the Technology and Logistics Branch, and the Nahal Brigade The Shavit, Eitam, and Oron mission aircraft played a vital role in defending Israel's airspace during the war and preserving intelligence superiority. The system is based on advanced technologies that provide control and monitoring capabilities. The prize will be awarded to the Research and Development Directorate for Weaponry and Technology Infrastructure in the Ministry of Defense, Israel Aerospace Industries, the Air Force, the Navy, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate. Additional prizes will also be awarded to the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and Elbit Systems for various defense missions, including the killing of Nasrallah. The Israel Security Prize will be awarded in the presence of President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and other security officials on June 18 at the President's Residence.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Saudi Arabia eyes Syria with new investment as Gaza remains in rubble
Gaza is in ruins while Syria's ruins are now going to receive substantial funds for reconstruction. Syria is getting a head start on the future. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. This was a symbolic moment. It illustrates the deep connection of Syria to its Islamic past and also the new present that is being formed. Saudi Arabia is the land of the Islamic holy sites and it has historically been a leader in the Islamic world. However, other Arab states contain important cities from the Islamic past. These include Baghdad in Iraq, Damascus in Syria and Cairo in Egypt. Syria has recently changed from being an ally of Iran and Hezbollah to being back in the Sunni Arab fold in the region. As such it is now close with Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, these countries may be working together to help Syria, but they also all want influence. As such the visit of the Saudi envoy was important. It also came a day before he was supposed to travel to the West Bank with other foreign ministers and envoys of Arab states. Israel reportedly prevented that visit. Saudi Arabia is focused on Syria. It was the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman who got US President Donald Trump to meet the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Shara'a in Damascus. This was key to lifting US sanctions. The new US envoy, Tom Barrack, was in Damascus recently to raise the American flag at the US ambassador's residence. This was symbolic. A new era is emerging. A new dawn. Syria's foreign minister said that Syria and Saudi Arabia are entering a strong phase of investment and economic cooperation. 'Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that the Kingdom will offer with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria,' reports said at Arab News. 'His statements came during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani in Damascus, who welcomed the foreign minister and his delegation on his arrival in the Syrian capital,' the report added. 'The Kingdom will provide, with Qatar, joint financial support to state employees in Syria,' Prince Faisal said. The countries will now hold talks to 'bolster aspects of cooperation in various fields.' SPA in Saudi Arabia added that the countries 'also expressed a strong desire to work in coordination with the international community and development partners to ensure sustainable, effective support through a comprehensive and unified vision.' There is a major contrast now between the Arab states moving to invest in Syria, and the continued fighting in Gaza. Gaza is in ruins, while Syria's ruins are now going to receive substantial funds for reconstruction. Syria is getting a head start on the future. Meanwhile, Israel may be more isolated in the region as countries flock to do business in Damascus.
