BEIRUT (Dispatches) – The fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s municipal elections kicked off Saturday in Lebanon’s southern governorates, amid ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime and ceasefire violations.
This marks Lebanon’s first local elections in nearly a decade, with the last one held in 2016 before being postponed three times due to political and security crises.
Polls opened at 7 am local time (0400GMT) and closed at 7 pm (1600GMT), followed by vote counting, state-run Lebanese News Agency (NNA) reported.
The elections come after Israeli warplanes and drones conducted heavy strikes Friday, violating the ceasefire agreement.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks, warning that they occurred at a “critical time” ahead of the southern vote.
The elections’ first phase began on May 4 in the Mount Lebanon governorate, followed by the second phase on May 11 in North Lebanon and Akkar, and the third phase on May 18 in Beirut and Bekaa, according to the Lebanese Interior Ministry.
Zionist troops have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities, despite the ceasefire that was reached in November.
The truce ended months of warfare between the Zionist regime and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.
Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 violations of the truce by the Zionist regime, including the deaths of over 200 victims and injuries to at least 500 others since last November.
Under the ceasefire deal, the Zionist regime was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after the Zionist regime refused to comply. The occupying regime still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.
The two southern governorates are a key stronghold for Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, and represent the vital core of the resistance front. Hence, the turnout resulting from the ballot boxes will send important messages. 
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has already sent a message to the people of southern Lebanon, calling on them to participate massively in the municipal and mayoral elections, describing participation as part of their steadfastness and confrontation with the usurping Tel Aviv regime.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in his capacity as leader of the Amal Movement, also urged southern voters to participate massively.