Fire erupted on Saturday in an encampment for Syrian refugees in a town near the city of Baalbek in the eastern Bekaa valley, the National News Agency reported.

The implementation of a circular issued by Banque du Liban (BDL) on supporting housing loans has not yet begun, although it was issued two months ago, Saudi Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday held talks with a number of Lebanese politicians after meeting the country's top officials earlier in the day.

Media reports said Pompeo met in the afternoon with Lebanese leader Samir Geagea and his wife MP Sethrida Geagea.

Senior Hizbullah official Sheikh Ali Daamoush on Friday questioned the timing and purpose of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Lebanon.

"What are the Lebanese expecting from America and its foreign minister after these two announcements that are totally biased in favor of Israel, except for inciting against the resistance (Hizbullah) and turning Lebanese against each other?,” Daamoush, who is the deputy head of Hizbullah's Executive Council, said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday urged Lebanon to pick a side as he visited the country on a regional tour to build a united front against Iran.

He especially expressed concern over the role of Hizbullah, an Iran-backed movement that is targeted by U.S. sanctions but holds three cabinet posts in Lebanon.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi chaired the meeting of the Maronite Consultative Gathering Follow-up Committee, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began an official visit to Lebanon on Friday, the last stop of his five-day Middle East trip that included Kuwait and Israel.

During talks in Baabda, Pompeo conveyed his worry over Hizbullah to President Michel Aoun.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks at the Center House with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen Thursday evening, his media office said.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Thursday visited the areas of Arsal and Baalbek in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate in north-eastern Lebanon.

In Baalbek, the Special Coordinator met with Governor Bashir Khodr and separately with the head of the Municipality of Baalbek, Hassan Lakkis, and the head of the Union of Municipalities of Baalbek, Nasri Othman.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday voiced regret that the previous U.S. administrations did not do much to “rein in” Hizbullah.

Pompeo made the remarks in an interview with Al-Arabiya television on the eve of an official visit to Lebanon.