⋯ 🚨 Statement by David Schenker, a previous high ranking official in the U.S. State Department:

«I think NGOs have won about 10 seats so far, which is good, but perhaps they could have won more if they had somehow united and entered as a coherent opposition to civil society.

«I do not think that my support for the opposition in the Lebanese elections amounts to interference in the internal affairs. I am a public figure here, and I am not part of the the United States government anymore.

«It is interesting to see that people didn't vote for all of these pro-Syrian candidates loyal to Assad, such as Arslan and Wahhab and Faisal Karami, Ferzli and Asaad Hardan.»

⋯ Earlier today: High Israeli interest in the Lebanese elections, with focus on the Lebanese Forces' win versus FPM, and it constituting a defeat for Hezbullah's allied majority (a majority that isn't hostile to its weapons).

Video by: @‌‌‎lamessazzam

Update on the event:

twitter.com/allushiii_new…

Marada's William Tawk wins an important seat from the Lebanese Forces party in Bcherri, bringing their total seats to 3.

FPM's total, through their alliance with Armenians and Muslims, will make their bloc bigger than LF's, as of now.

⋯ As of 11 pm

Hezbullah and its allies are projected to get 61 seats

14-March are projected to get about 37 seats (block collapsed)

Opposition and Independents (Close ideologically to 14-March) are projected to get 15 seats

NGOs and 17-Oct parties are projected to get 15 seats

⋯ Hezbullah's candidates won the greatest share of individual votes in the following 4 ⁠constituencies:

- Mohammad Raad, in South ⁠III (Nabatiyeh-‌Marjayoun-‌Hasbaya-‌Bint Jbeil)
- Rami Abu Hamdan, in Beqaa ⁠I (Zahle)
- Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, in Beqaa ⁠III (Baalbek-Hermel)
- Amin Sherri, in Beirut ⁠II (West Beirut)

All 13 candidates have been elected.

South Lebanon: The large explosion heard is caused by IDF tank drills near the border.

The IDF is currently simulating a multi-front war against Lebanon's Hezbullah and Gaza's Hamas/PIJ.

Update: Explosions can be heard all around the eastern sector of south Lebanon.

FPM secured 23 seats, while LF secured 20-21.

⋯ "Prominent" Lebanese TV host Dima Sadek shocked after discovering FPM didn't collapse and got 23 seats, despite 4 years of strong opposition against them through protests and MSM coverage.

Israel–D.R.Congo:

In 2019, in an unannounced way, the Mossad chief Yossi Cohen landed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Being uninvited, he knocked on the “president's door” to request a meeting about something undisclosed (the Israeli Military Censor doesn't let the newspaper say what the mission was for).

On the 3rd uninvited visit by the Mossad to D.R.Congo, President Tshisekedi ordered an armed escort and kicked the Israeli spychief out of the country, fearing a coup.

www.themarker.com/news/.p…

The highway in Al-Hisah, Akkar was cut off with dirt berms and shrouds in protest against the results of the parliamentary elections, where Alawite Haider Issa lost by a difference of 84 votes only.

⋯ Haidar Issa was considered part of FPM.

According to the results in Tripoli, Faisal Karami lost his seat.

Um Al-Fahm municipality in occupied Palestine protests against IDF's plan to simulate an occupation war against Hezbullah by training in the city, stating the psychological effect and how this will engrave in the IDF soldier's minds the stereotype that the city is terrorist.

Faisal Karami lost his seat by an 8 votes difference.

⋯ Walid Joumblat's party won 9 seats, including 2 in Beirut II, an increase of a seat from 2018's results.

⋯ FPM's Haidar Issa despite getting 3,948 votes lost to his rival that got only 324 votes.

FPM's list only achieved 3 quotients.

For those interested to know how lists and candidates win, here is a breakdown of the law and the process. [Arabic only]

Schools are closed today in Tripoli, and north Lebanon in general as a precautionary measure in case any security incident happens over the results of the elections.

⋯ The Lebanese army has deployed in Tripoli as a precautionary measure after the final election results have been announced.