Lebanon puts parliamentary vote on ice amid Israel-Hezbollah tensions

Lebanon’s parliament has delayed legislative elections originally scheduled for May by two years, the parliament speaker announced, citing ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah as the reason for the postponement, France 24 reports.

On March 9, MPs gathered in Beirut, including Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, even as Israeli warplanes flew over the southern suburbs of the city, highlighting the heightened security risks facing the country.

The country's state news agency said 76 legislators voted in favor, 41 voted against, and four abstained. Hezbollah’s 13-member bloc in parliament voted in favor of the extension.

The ongoing war with Israel that began last week has displaced over half a million people and made it difficult to hold a vote in large parts of the country. 

By Vafa Guliyeva