According to analysts, this could lead to political impasse and unrest as strongly divided factions negotiate power-sharing agreements over senior government positions, potentially delaying changes needed to handle the economic crisis and unlock donor help.

In the first election since Lebanon’s terrible economic catastrophe and a massive port explosion that rocked Beirut, opponents of Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah, including the Saudi-aligned Lebanese Forces (LF), a Christian group, scored considerable gains, as did reform-minded newcomers.

While the election results are still being confirmed, senior sources indicated it was unlikely that Hezbollah and its allies would win more than 64 of the 128 seats in parliament, citing preliminary figures.

When Lebanon last voted in 2018, Hezbollah and its allies received a 71 percent majority.

Because they were not authorized to speak on behalf of Hezbollah and its allies, the sources spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Hezbollah and its allies have lost their parliamentary majority, according to an LF official, but no single faction appeared to have a majority currently.

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