Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday held a central meeting dedicated to discussing the launch of recovery projects in the so-called pilot zones in south Lebanon, as part of the first phase of a return and recovery plan.

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat once again criticized the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which he argued does not mandate a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Speaking to a Turkish newspaper, Jumblat called the framework deal "a huge trap" as it talks about "redeployment" instead of a full withdrawal.

Israeli forces carried out a series of powerful detonations overnight near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon, Lebanese state media reported Friday, with Israel saying it destroyed tunnels used by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

"Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions around midnight," specifically "in the area of the Beaufort fortress," Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said, adding that the huge blasts resounded over a large area, shattering glass in nearby villages.

Turkey is interested in participating in a new security initiative for Lebanon when the 7,500-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in the south of the country expires at the end of the year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint press statement with his Lebanese counterpart on Thursday.

Last year, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to terminate the peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL, bowing to demands from the United States and its close ally, Israel. The U.N. is now considering options to help end the decades-old conflict between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel.

Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern towns of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa and al-Mansouri on Thursday, following a night of heavy demolitions in Israeli-occupied villages.

Israeli forces detonated homes in al-Mansouri, Majdalzoun, and Bouyout al-Siyyed, and directed heavy machine-gun fire toward Wadi al-Hujeir and Wadi Slouqi.

Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron during which they discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as the developments resulting from “Israel's continued aggression against Lebanon and its systematic destruction of dozens of occupied southern Lebanese villages and towns,” Berri’s office said.

“During the call, President Macron affirmed France's continued support for Lebanon and its commitment to prioritizing Lebanon's stability and sovereignty, offering support on all levels, particularly for the army and reconstruction efforts. He also expressed the readiness of France and other friendly nations to assist Lebanon in overcoming this critical phase,” the statement said.

President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that Turkey is well-positioned to advocate for the framework agreement internationally and urge all parties to abide by its terms, as he visited the country to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials.

Aoun said he thinks Turkey can support Lebanon "given its NATO membership and strong regional ties".

Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday hailed the Lebanese Army and said that it should not be “put to tests” in connection with the so-called pilot zones scheme in south Lebanon.

Lebanon's judiciary postponed a Thursday hearing for former central bank governor Riad Salameh over alleged embezzlement after he failed to show up due to illness, a judicial official told AFP.

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal on Thursday stressed that the army remains committed to fulfilling all its missions despite “the significant challenges posed by limited resources, the magnitude of the tasks, and the delicate circumstances.”

Lamenting that Israel is continuing its attacks and violations to “obstruct the army's efforts,” Haykal noted that the military “continues its deployment in the south in accordance with existing agreements and national principles, and its efforts to ensure the safe and secure return of our people to their villages and towns persist.”