Prime Minister Nawaf Salam sharply criticized Tehran's intentions toward Lebanon, stating that its insistence on including the country in any ceasefire deal was calculated to signal to the world that ultimate decision-making power over Lebanon rests exclusively in Iranian hands.

It is glaringly obvious why Iran rejected the ceasefire agreement, Salam told British newspaper The Times. "Tehran wanted to broadcast to the entire international community that Lebanon is nothing more than a card in its pocket — and that they alone decide on our behalf, holding the final word."

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat expressed deep distrust of United States foreign policy, accusing Washington of absolute bias toward Israel.

"When it comes to Israel, the U.S. is nothing but a proxy mediator relaying Israeli ideas," Jumblat told pan-Arab news channel al-Jazeera.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday asserted that U.S. claims and recent reports about a possible Syrian military intervention in Lebanon are mere rumors.

Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said Friday that the Lebanese government is negotiating terms it cannot actually enforce, emphasizing that no agreement can be implemented on the ground without the approval of the resistance.

Hezbollah and Amal reject the state's frameworks, which, according to Fadlallah, grant excessive concessions to Israel without offering any realistic or genuine solutions to Lebanon.

The Israeli army ordered Friday residents of Sarafand, Teffahta, and Mazraat Sinai in south Lebanon to evacuate ahead of strikes.

Strikes targeted Jebshit, Kfartebnit, Blat, al-Bayyad, Qalaway and Debbine, as Hezbollah claimed attacks overnight into Friday on Israeli troops and equipment in Yohmor-Shqif, Bint Jbeil, Naqoura, Qawzah, Rshaf, Zawtar and Tayr Harfa.

President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that he would always choose the state and that Lebanon will not pull out of negotiations with Israel despite pressure.

"Our choice remains the State, as it protects us all, and we must be convinced that we are a sovereign nation," Aoun said.

Hezbollah launched drones at Israel on Wednesday and Thursday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said, as it accused the group of serving Iran's interests.

"Yesterday evening and again this morning, the Iranian terror regime's proxy, Hezbollah, launched drones at Israel from Lebanon, in (a) blatant violation of the ceasefire," the Foreign Ministry posted on the X platform.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji said Hezbollah is a military organization and there is no difference between its political and its military wings.

In an interview with the French news channel LCI, Rajji said that "distinguishing between the political and military wings of Hezbollah is completely unrealistic."

One person was killed Thursday and seven others were wounded in an Israeli strike on Abbasiyeh in south Lebanon. Another person was killed in West Bekaa in a strike on Sohmor.

Other strikes targeted Jwaya, Kfarshouba, Kfarjoz, Kfartebnit, Taraya, Deir Kifa, Majdalzoun, al-Mansouri, al-Qatrani, Shehabiyeh, Qalaway, Kherbet Selem, Deir Qanoun, Mashghara, Srifa, al-Henniyeh, al-Ghandourieh, Shoukine, Habboush, Toura, Tyre and Nabatiyeh.

President Joseph Aoun stressed Wednesday that "it is impossible to live outside the framework of the state, as experience has proven," warning that "anything else is a sin" against the country.