France is preparing with Italy to deploy international coalition forces in southern Lebanon after the end of UNIFIL's mission, a French Foreign Ministry official told Al-Arabiya television.

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, claimed Thursday that the Lebanese Army is sidelining Shiite troops and officers who are unwilling to confront Hezbollah, saying the move reflects a growing readiness in Beirut to act against the group under the new framework agreement with Israel.

The Israeli army said Thursday that it eliminated a Hezbollah operative after he emerged from an underground infrastructure in the Ali al-Taher heights in the Nabatieh district

President Joseph Aoun affirmed Thursday to a delegation that included MPs Michel Mouawad and Ashraf Rifi, along with other figures, that "our responsibility is to proceed from a Lebanese perspective."

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed Thursday that the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel "opens the door to restoring a functioning state and ending the chronic conflict that has drained Lebanon for decades."

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he is ready to reach a settlement if the other side shows a similar willingness, while describing a proposed framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel as an "agreement of sedition."

In remarks published Thursday by Ad-Diyar newspaper, Berri revealed that he had previously reached an understanding with President Joseph Aoun to demand that any Israeli withdrawal be executed based on administrative districts rather than "pilot zones" and that he was later surprised that the finalized framework agreement ultimately adopted the pilot zones mechanism instead.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday defended the framework agreement that Lebanon has signed with Israel, saying that if it gets implemented, it should lead to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

It would also "allow our displaced people to return to their villages and homes in a safe and dignified manner," Salam told LBCI television.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has discussed with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner the latest developments in the negotiations with Iran and the current situation in Lebanon.

"President Joseph Aoun denied on Wednesday rumors about his willingness to dismiss Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal and the heads of security agencies, saying these claims are "unfounded."

"Their roles remain vital to maintaining national security and enforcing state sovereignty," Aoun said of Haykal and security agencies' leaders.

Israeli forces opened fire Wednesday on a civilian vehicle in Ibl al-Saqi and bulldozed roads and uprooted trees from Hamoul and Naqoura to Aita al-Shaab in south Lebanon.

Israeli troops also detonated houses overnight in Beit Yahoun, Hadatha, and al-Tiri, shelled the outskirts of Beit Yahoun, and machine-gunned the main road from Kounine to Bint Jbeil.