Hezbollah sweeps S Lebanon polls

The militant group Hezbollah and its allies have won all 23 seats in south Lebanon, the Interior Minister said. Hezbollah hopes Sunday's victory will prove its strength and send a message of defiance to the Washington.

The United States considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization and has called for its disarmament in line with a UN Security Council resolution. Hezbollah has refused, backed by the Lebanese government, which argues that the militants are legitimately resisting Israel's alleged occupation of territory on the border.

Israel's foreign ministry expressed alarm about Hezbollah's strong showing in the region.

"If Hezbollah was only a political party, we in Israel wouldn't be as concerned as we are, " said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.