Hezbollah Scores Major Gains in Lebanon Election

The leader of Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah group declared “mission accomplished” Monday after scoring major gains in parliamentary elections, as the main Western-backed faction headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri lost a third of its seats.

The results of Sunday’s election further bolster Iran’s allies in Lebanon and neighboring Syria at a time when Tehran faces growing Israeli threats and the prospect of the United States pulling out of a landmark nuclear deal negotiated with world powers.

They also underline the growing clout of the group in Lebanon where it dominates politically and militarily.

Hariri acknowledged the losses at a news conference in Beirut on Monday, but said “it’s not the end of the world.” The international community, he said, should look at the results in a “positive way” because they reflect democracy in Lebanon. He blamed his losses on a new election law and a performance by his political party “that wasn’t up to the standards.”

“My hand is extended to every Lebanese who participated in the elections to preserve stability and create jobs,” Hariri said in a televised statement. He said he would continue to work closely with President Michel Aoun, who is allied with the rival, Hezbollah-led bloc.

The official count, announced by Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk at a news conference, shows that Hariri, a Sunni politician with close ties to Saudi Arabia, has lost at least five seats in Beirut, once considered his party’s stronghold.

Hariri told reporters that his Future Movement won 21 seats in Sunday’s vote, a decline of…