An Israeli military source on Monday criticized the Lebanese Army’s performance in the so-called pilot zones in south Lebanon, noting that “it has not entered private property” there and that its search operations are “partial.”

President Joseph Aoun noted Monday that the Prophet’s Birthday holiday comes this year “as Lebanon faces grave challenges, from repeated Israeli attacks against its sovereignty, land and sons in the South and the various regions, to economic and living crises that are still burdening its citizens.”

MP Ali Fayyad, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc, on Monday pointed out that "it is clear the Americans are pressuring the Lebanese authorities to tighten the noose around Hezbollah and its institutions, even to the point of confrontation.”

Two young men were killed in an overnight strike on Kfar Remman, the National News Agency said Monday.

Hussein Shakaroun and Ahmad Roumani, both 17 years old, were targeted by an Israeli drone while riding their motorbikes.

Hezbollah Political Council member Mahmoud Qmati announced overnight that the Iran-backed party is not completely closing the door to direct communication with Washington, and that the decision will be made based on interest and the appropriate circumstances.

"The resistance has decided to be patient and give the existing political process a chance, with the aim of achieving complete liberation and the withdrawal of the occupation from Lebanese territory," Qmati said in an interview on al-Manar television.

Hezbollah on Friday hit back at the U.S. administration over its announcement that the group is under the control of Iran’s Quds Force, the expeditionary arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Defense Minister Michel Menassa visited Friday the Lebanese Army's South Litani headquarters in the southern city of Tyre.

Salam urged the army to maintain its unity, assuring the soldiers that his government is mobilizing all available Arab and international support to enhance human capabilities, modernize equipment, and improve living conditions for military personnel.

U.S. President Donald Trump “has said that he would be willing to talk to Hezbollah if it would lead to an end of conflict, or peace,” Ed Gabriel, the head of the American Task Force on Lebanon, said.

Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has emphasized the importance of UNIFIL forces' presence in southern Lebanon and their assigned role, both in “maintaining security in the south and in supporting the Lebanese Army's deployment across all Lebanese territory up to the international border, as stipulated in Resolution 1701.”

Israeli strikes and shelling targeted overnight into Thursday Houla, Markaba, Wadi Slouqi, Qabrikha, al-Mansouri, Majdalzoun, Ali al-Taher and Touline, as troops carried out detonations in Zawtar al-Sahrqiyeh, Majdalzoun, al-Mansouri and al-Khiam.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon handed meanwhile one of its positions near al-Khardali to the Lebanese Army.