Hezbollah, allies eye gains in Lebanon vote

  • Lebanon is holding the first parliamentary elections in nine years on Sunday
  • Hezbollah, a government coalition partner, expects to emerge stronger from the vote, a result that would affirm Iran’s power in Lebanon
  • Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist group by the United States
  • Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s position as the dominant Sunni is being challenged like never before

Nabi Ayla, Lebanon:  The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies expect to emerge stronger from a parliamentary election on Sunday, a result that would affirm Iran’s regional ascendancy from Tehran to Beirut.

The group, classified by the US as a terrorist organisation, is backing a former spymaster and friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was once one of Lebanon’s most powerful men, to suceed Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

Read the article by Tom Perry & Laila Bassam at The Sydney Morning Herald.