Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday night that the Israeli army has cleared the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, which he said Hezbollah had developed as an extension of the Beaufort (al-Shakif) position.

Lebanon and the European Union on Thursday launched the EU-Lebanon Joint Monitoring Committee, a new platform for strategic dialogue on EU-Lebanon cooperation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday that Israel decided to release five captive Lebanese civilians after “significant efforts” were made to “locate and repatriate the remains of leaders of Lebanon’s Jewish community who were abducted and killed” in the mid-1980s.

“As part of the negotiations with Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed officials to advance efforts to locate and repatriate the remains of leaders of Lebanon’s Jewish community who were abducted and killed by terrorist organizations in the mid-1980s,” the office said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Thursday that "the safe return of any released Lebanese citizen to their homeland constitutes a significant step towards resolving this file," after Israel released Lebanese captive Malek Ghazi.

"I extend my gratitude to the U.S. administration, and especially to (U.S.) Ambassador (to Lebanon) Michel Issa, for their efforts in this regard," Salam said.

The FBI has returned three cultural artifacts to representatives of the Lebanese government at a ceremony held in New York.

On behalf of Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, consul general of Lebanon in New York Talal Daher presided over the affair.

President Joseph Aoun accused Israel on Thursday of violating the U.S.-brokered framework deal, as it intensified its attacks around the Ali al-Taher hill in south Lebanon.

Despite the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon and a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Lebanon still reports Israeli strikes, artillery shelling and broad demolitions of civilian buildings in southern villages and towns.

Israeli artillery shelled Wednesday night into Thursday al-Mansouri, Bani Hayyan, Wadi al-Hujair and Beit Leef in south Lebanon while strikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Ali al-Taher.

Israeli forces advanced into Halta and al-Mansouri and detonated houses in Qantara, Bani Hayan, Hadatha and Baraashit.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he will not break ties with President Joseph Aoun, emphasizing that the current period demands unified efforts to counter Israeli aggression and challenges.

Berri told An-Nahar in remarks published Tuesday that "seven rounds of negotiations with Israel have taken place from Washington to Rome, while the people of the South are still being killed and their homes destroyed."

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa met Tuesday evening in Israel with its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Joseph Aoun signaled openness to all diplomatic pathways on Wednesday, stating that the primary objective of the ongoing negotiations with Israel is to spare Lebanon from war while protecting its national sovereignty.

"I have outlined the core objectives of the negotiations: sparing Lebanon the scourge of war while safeguarding its sovereignty, stability, and national interests," Aoun said. "I remain open to any option or path that serves these goals, as our ultimate priority is protecting Lebanon and its people."