Tension increased on Thursday in Rajem Khalaf area on the outskirts of Wadi Khaled region in north Lebanon a day after Mohammed Hmeidan was killed in an individual dispute.

The state-run National News Agency reported that two houses which belong to the Asaad family were set ablaze at dawn in retaliation to the death of Hmeidan.

Several agents are recruiting jihadists to carry out suicide bombings in Lebanon and Syria as the latest report says that a man, who resides in Denmark, is suspected of brainwashing youth to join extremist organizations.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday that security forces are suspecting that M.A., who is residing in Denmark, is playing an important role in recruiting youth to join terrorist organizations with the aim of carrying out suicide attacks in Lebanon and Syria.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim lamented that the negotiations on the release of the Lebanese hostages was going in a slow pace and stressed the necessity to stop terrorists from hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

“The problem of the captives does not require consensus, which we already have. It requires agreement on several issues and many of them are on the right track,” Ibrahim told al-Akhbar daily in an interview published on Thursday.

Lebanese officials reportedly handed over to Azzam al-Ahmad, aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a list of wanted fugitives who had taken refuge at the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

Palestinian sources said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper that once the security committee at the camp receives the list it will kick off an operation to preserve stability at the camp and avert any attempt to involve the refugee camps in the situation in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale highlighted his country's concerns regarding the developments along the Lebanese border with Syria and Israel, warning of attempts to destabilize the situation in it.

Local newspapers published on Friday reported that Hale's meeting with Prime Minister Tammam Salam a day before was to convey his country's deep concerns over the developments along Lebanon's border with Syria and with Israel.

A security official denied that police and the army began implementing a much-anticipated security plan for the eastern Bekaa Valley, saying recent arrests came as part of routine raids.

The official, who was not identified, told al-Joumhouria daily published on Thursday that “operations carried out by the army and security forces... in the Bekaa do not fall under the promised security plan.”

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat has expressed pessimism on the ability of rival parties to resolve the presidential deadlock through dialogue and accused Israel of drawing a demarcation line between the Jewish State and Iran.

According to As Safir daily published on Thursday, Jumblat said there was no positive development in the presidential crisis despite the talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal representatives.

Director of the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry Jean-François Girault decided to suspend his endeavors to reach a breakthrough regarding the presidential stalemate in Lebanon unless new developments occur.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday, the French diplomat informed Lebanese officials that he postponed an expected visit to Beirut to make way for new developments.

Israeli forces went briefly on high alert near the border with Lebanon on Wednesday evening, closing roads and asking residents to stay indoors, following reports of a suspected infiltration by a number of militants.

“After sending troops to the area, the IDF (Israeli army) Spokesman announced no infiltration has occurred, but asked that residents remained in their homes,” the website of Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji hailed on Wednesday the role of the military in thwarting terrorism in Lebanon, most notably in the northeastern region of Arsal and the northern city of Tripoli.

He said while inspecting troops deployed in Arsal: “We have achieved several impressive national accomplishments, but that does not mean that our confrontation with terrorism is over.”