Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday accused MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc of paralyzing the country and the economy over “narrow personal and family interests,” slamming Hizbullah for providing a “political cover” to its ally.

“After the impediment and hijacking of the presidency, the obstruction and blackmail have moved to the cabinet, which is the only institution that can currently address the situation resulting from the continued presidential void,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The Change and Reform bloc criticized on Tuesday the stalling in holding a cabinet session, demanding that it convene to halt “the violations against the constitution” and resolve the dispute over the controversial security appointments issue.

Former Minister Salim Jreissati said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “Cabinet should meet in order to restore dignity to the army command.”

Hizbullah's mouthpiece al-Manar TV station reported on Tuesday new achievements by the Syrian army and the party's fighters along the rugged Syrian-Lebanese border.

Al-Manar said that Syrian troops and Hizbullah fighters controlled Ras al-Kosh and Qornet Ras al-Saabeh on the outskirts of al-Jarajeer in the Syrian area of Qalamoun.

Families of Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by the Islamic State group blocked the vital highway between Tripoli and Beirut on Tuesday, amid reports that negotiations with the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front have nearly settled on releasing several troops in a prisoner exchange.

The families blocked the key highway in both directions in the al-Qalamoun area, just outside Tripoli, declaring that the road would remain closed until 8:00 pm.

The Israeli army's northern command is busy tracking Hizbullah in Syria, its chief, Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, has said.

“The most prominent sphere is the change this sector has experienced and is experiencing. In our generation, under our watch, we are facing this challenge – and we must know to change,” Kochavi has said, according to the Jerusalem Post daily.

A high-ranking security official played down claims by an al-Nusra Front leader that the Islamic State extremist group is plotting a terrorist attack in the northern city of Tripoli.

The official, who was not identified, told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat published Tuesday that security forces have not received any such information.

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas has called for joint Lebanese-Jordanian action to establish safe areas in Syria to help the refugees return to their country.

“There is a need for joint Lebanese-Jordanian work to ask for safe areas in Syria,” Derbas told An Nahar daily published on Tuesday.

U.S. Ambassador David Hale has said that jihadists are seeking to saw the seeds of hate in Lebanon but that the Lebanese are capable of defeating them if they stay committed to state institutions.

“Extremist groups from across the border seek to sow seeds of hate, divide the Lebanese people, and destroy our shared values of mutual respect and understanding,” said Hale on Monday at a ceremony held in BIEL on the occasion of U.S. Independence Day.

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement agreed Monday that the country's political forces must try and create an “appropriate atmosphere” for the proper functioning of state institutions.

“The conferees discussed the current developments and situations in the country,” said a joint statement issued by the two parties after their 13th dialogue session in Ain al-Tineh.

The army on Monday arrested several Syrians in the eastern Bekaa region on terrorism charges.

"Army intelligence agents arrested a terrorist group comprising 4 Syrians in Jib Janine and Kamid el-Loz in western Bekaa," LBCI television reported in the evening.