Ground Report

Per Reuters, the Hezbollah alliance, backed by Iran and Syria, has lost the parliamentary elections to the United States-backed March 14 party and its allies, according to a senior politician. Other news outlets, including Al-Jazeera and Al Arabiya, have also confirmed the result.

Twitterers in Lebanon have noted widespread fireworks since the Reuters report.

1. faerlie (Lebanon) fireworks guys in sioufi are starting to break out the good stuff. meaningful, or they exhausted supply of snaps? #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from web
2. arkhemidus (Beirut, Lebanon) beirut tonight: eerily quiet…then FIRECRACKERS!…car alarms sounding dogs barking babies crying…then quiet again #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
3. markdaher (Zahle, Lebanon) so much fireworks in all of Bekaa! I can see it all from home! Awesome sight! Let me see if I can get a pic #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from web
4. tfitzsimons (Beirut, Lebanon) I think I hear fireworks in Ras Beirut. That can only mean one thing… #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl

There have also been isolated instances of gunfire around Beirut, per local tweets.

1. nowlebanon (Beirut, Lebanon) Clarification: gunfire into air followed by scuffle outside Future TV in Spears, nobody shot. #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
2. ibrahimarab (Lebanon) إطلاق نار كثيف في بيروت والضاحية أين الجيش والقوى الأمنية؟ #lebelections #lebanonelections #lebaneseelections (Heavy gunfire in Beirut and its suburbs, where the army and security forces?) 07 Jun 2009 from Ping.fm

While the polls have just recently closed, some Twitterers are skeptical about the early results being reported. However, as time goes on, it is appearing more and more that the U.S.-led party and its allies did indeed win major victories:

1. azzi (Beirut, Lebanon) I think filling the airwaves with music video is better than reporting partial and useless results #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from web
2. abuhatem (Charleston, W.V.) #lebanonelections Al Jazeera gives as breaking news that Mustaqbal is celebrating for having won..?! (via @donatelladr) way too early 07 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
3. 4484 (Beirut, Lebanon) from very credible source. M14 have 72 confirmed MP’s!!!! #lebanonelections 07 Jun 2009 from web
4. calperrycnn (Middle East) March 14th is looking VERY strong – stand by for celebrations in parts of Lebanon. 07 Jun 2009 from web