Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun discussed on Tuesday with British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling and U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard the progress in the security project on the Lebanese-Syrian border, the British embassy in Beirut said in a statement.

President Michel Aoun received on Tuesday the UNIFIL commander, Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col in Baabda where discussions focused on the developments in south Lebanon following Israel’s intention to launch Operation Northern Shield to demolish alleged Hizbullah tunnels, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The President announced that “Lebanon will wait for the results of field investigations following Israeli claims that Hizbullah has dug tunnels into Israel,” NNA said.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Monday to hike wages as of next year while stressing that “legitimate anger does not justify violence and rioting.”

In an address to the nation, Macron announced a 100-euro ($113) per month increase in the minimum wage from next year in a major concession to "yellow vest" protesters who have roiled the country.

The Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir affirmed Saudi backing for Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s endeavors in forming a national consensus government, and “rejected Iran’s interference in Lebanon and Hizbullah’s role.”

The Israeli military embarked on erecting a sand barrier in Mays al-Jabal-Tallet Sharaqi on the border with Lebanon on Monday, LBCI TV station reported.

Lebanon prepares for hosting the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit next month as it still struggles to form a new government, as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri objected to not inviting Syria to the event, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The daily said that political circles have recently raised the issue of preparations for the Beirut summit expected mid-next month, in light of aggravating conflict between the political parties over cabinet shares and quotas leaving the country “governmentless.”

Activists from the Sabaa party staged a sit-in on Saturday near the Ministry of Finance-TVA Directorate in Beirut's neighborhood of Adliyeh.

The “Hizbullah” tunnels reportedly discovered by the Israeli army on the Blue Line last week are “old and deserted” tunnels that Israel is “exploiting for political ends,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

The Presidency’s media office stressed on Friday that government formation remarks attributed to President Michel Aoun were “inaccurate.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat criticized on Friday a suggestion to expand the cabinet seats from 30 to 32, in light of the state’s “efforts to curb squandering and expenses.”

“In light of full swing efforts to curtail squandering and expenses, it seems cloning two new ministers is what’s required,” Jumblat said in a sarcastic tweet.