Negotiations between the Lebanese Forces and the al-Mustaqbal Movement over electoral alliances are “facing obstacles in most districts,” MTV reported on Sunday.

Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has stressed that the FPM will not allow the “replacement” of Lebanese expats with “refugees.”

Gulf states that will attend the Rome conference for supporting the Lebanese Army in mid-March will offer assistance to the Lebanese military institution and security forces, a Gulf diplomat has said.

Hizbullah Deputy Leader Sheikh Naim Qassem on Saturday said Hizbullah will always confront the “attempts of Israel and the United States to subordinate Lebanon” to its policies, affirming that Lebanon “can't be strong without Hizbullah.”

“Hizbullah is the pillar of modern Lebanon. Lebanon can't be strong and stable without this pillar which has become an integral part of building the institutions, drawing the future, maintaining independence and prevention of occupation,” said Qassem at a ceremony in Nabatieh.

The Internal Security Forces announced the arrest of two wanted drug dealers after thorough follow-up and monitoring, the ISF said in a statement on Saturday.

A patrol of the Anti-Narcotics Bureau arrested one of the suspects on Thursday. He was identified as Palestinian N.H. and is wanted on multiple drug and arson charges.

Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom agreed in a joint statement late on Friday “to work together to support Lebanon's government and to work together to counter Hizbullah's role,” in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The statement was issued during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UK at the invitation of the government of Queen Elizabeth II, said the news agency.

President Michel Aoun on Friday presided over a meeting for the Higher Defense Council at the presidential palace in Baabda.

A statement issued after the meeting said talks addressed “the security situations in the country and the measures taken to preserve security and stability, in addition to the measures that will be taken during the upcoming parliamentary elections.”

Relatives of Islamist prisoners staged a new protest on Friday to press for a “general amnesty.”

The National News Agency said a march was organized after Friday prayers in the northern city of Tripoli.

The United States Embassy in Beirut delivered six new prisoner transport vehicles to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), the US Embassy said on Friday.

Al-Mustaqbal Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury announced after meeting Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea on Friday that their parties are to strike alliances for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the districts of Chouf and Aley, dismissing doubts about a possible convergence between the two after strained ties.