Leader's Top Aide: Hezbollah's Victory to Reinforce Resistance Front

Rasa - Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati congratulated the Lebanese government and nation on the occasion of the successful holding of the parliamentary elections in that country, and said that Hezbollah's victory will strengthen the resistance movement in its anti-Israel and anti-terrorism drive.

News ID: 437576

Date: 08 May 2018 - 22:10

RNA - "This great victory was complementary to other victories of the Lebanese nation against Israel,” Velayati said on Tuesday.

He reiterated that the landslide victory will play an important role in the future of the region.

"The victory was also a victory for both the executive and legislative branches of the Lebanese government as both president and the prime minister are elected by the parliament," Velayati added.

The top leader's aide praised Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s role in the great victory, and said, "Despite Saudis and Zionists’ enormous efforts to derail the elections, Nasrallah led the people to the victory."

The top adviser underlined that Israel and Saudi Arabia found out that the huge amount of money they spent on the elections proved to be futile.

"Hezbollah’s victory will strengthen the Resistance Movement against Israel in the region and Syria," Velayati said.

Lebanon's first parliamentary vote in nine years was held on Sunday, with over 500 candidates vying for seats. Turnout was 49.2 percent, according to officials.

Unofficial results from Lebanon’s parliamentary elections show that the Hezbollah resistance movement and its political allies secured over half the seats.

Hezbollah as well as groups and individuals affiliated to it have won at least 67 seats in Lebanon’s parliament, according to the results cited by politicians and campaigns and reported in Lebanese media.

Hezbollah's allies include the Amal Movement led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Christian Free Patriotic Movement founded by President Michel Aoun.

According to Fars News Agancy, the parliamentary seats are split evenly - 64 for Christians and 64 for Muslims, including Druze, with the two halves further divided among 11 religious groups.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said earlier on Monday that his party had lost a third of seats in the parliamentary elections, winning only 21 seats, down from the 33 it had been holding since the last time Lebanon elected a parliament in 2009.

In a televised statement, Hariri said despite gains in Sidon, Tripoli, Beirut and Western Bekaa Valley, the Future Movement had only won 21 out of 128 parliamentary seats.

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