The fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s long-awaited municipal and local elections kicked off Saturday in the southern governorates of South Lebanon and Nabatieh, a day after intense Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple towns in the region.

This marks the first municipal vote in Lebanon since 2016. Elections were postponed three times due to the country’s prolonged political, economic, and security crises.

According to the National News Agency, polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT) across both governorates, with voting scheduled to close at 7:00 p.m. (16:00 GMT), followed by vote counting and the announcement of preliminary results.

The elections are seen as a crucial test of Lebanon’s democratic process amid deep instability, as the government seeks to uphold constitutional obligations despite rising tensions and persistent challenges on the ground.