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Israel-Hezbollah border skirmishes: Latest developments

Israeli warplanes struck Monday a house in the border town of Mays al-Jabal and a building in al-Odaisseh.

Border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have de-escalated in the past few days as Gaza truce talks gained steam.

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Makram Rabah briefly detained over anti-Hezbollah interview

Lebanon’s General Security directorate on Monday briefly detained outspoken political activist Makram Rabah following interrogation over an interview in which he attacked Hezbollah and talked about alleged Hezbollah arms storage and manufacturing sites.

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Report: Qatari ambassador invited Jumblat, Bassil to Doha talks

Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has invited former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil to visit Qatar to discuss the presidential file with top officials there, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said.

The daily reported Monday that Al-Thani will visit other political leaders soon to invite them to talks in Doha.

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Quintet ambassadors meet Berri, al-Rahi

The ambassadors of the member states of the five-nation group for Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, met Monday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

"The meeting was very good," Berri said, adding that there will be other meetings. "There is an agreement that an understanding must be reached and a president must be elected."

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Bassil asks Muslims for 'partnership', urges Christian unity

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has pleaded to Lebanon’s political parties and religious leaders, mentioning them by name one by one.

“I urge Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan and the leaders of the Sunni community, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with his leadership, Speaker Nabih Berri with his wisdom, former Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and his son Taymour with their understanding of Mt. Lebanon, and all Lebanese leaders not to let go of balanced and equal partnership,” Bassil said in a speech at the FPM’s annual convention.

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LF says no convergence with FPM unless it stops supporting Hezbollah

The Lebanese Forces said Monday in a statement that it cannot converge with the Free Patriotic Movement, unless the latter stops supporting Hezbollah.

"There is a communication with the FPM and this communication has resulted in an intersection presidential candidate," the statement said, adding that communication must be maintained but reaching convergence "requires national understandings starting from a sovereign vision, which is not currently available."

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Israel-Hezbollah skirmishes: Latest developments

Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling on Sunday targeted several southern Lebanese border areas, as Hezbollah announced a fresh attack on Israeli troops.

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Bassil says it was Hezbollah that abandoned MoU, not FPM

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has said that the the FPM’s 2006 memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah “has not collapsed” although it needs “improvement.”

“Its ideas remain valid but it needs improvement, something that has not happaned,” Bassil said during the FPM’s annual dinner.

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Leaf says Nasrallah taking Lebanon to "dangerous place"

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf has accused Hezbollah of putting Lebanon on a slippery slope.

"It is a place of great volatility and risk," Leaf said in an interview with Sky News Arabia, adding that Hezbollah and its leader are "taking a lot of risks" that could take the group and Lebanon itself into a "dangerous place."

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Army dismantles Israeli aircraft missile in Hrajel

The army’s Engineering Regiment on Friday dismantled the unexploded Israeli aircraft missile that fell three days ago between residential buildings at the entrance of the Keserwan district town of Hrajel, the National News Agency said.

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