Britain is seeking to strengthen its presence in Lebanon through the gateway of the conflict with Israel, a media report said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and a number of ministers are currently discussing possible diplomatic and political measures that the government should take to confront Israel’s reluctance to implement the November 27 ceasefire agreement, a prominent ministerial source said.

“The debate kicked off based on the fact that the political efforts have not yet led to tangible results and that there is a problem related to the competency of the Foreign Ministry’s work, especially the performance of Minister Youssef Rajji, amid a belief that the latter is not concerned, neither personally nor politically, with carrying out a special effort in this regard,” the source told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.

In connection with Trump’s plan for ending the war in Gaza, sources told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal that a possible ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory would have a positive impact on Lebanon.

“Trump has an inclination to end the ‘endless wars,’ which indicates that there is a possibility to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and work on a solution for the issue of the monopoly of arms,” the sources said.

Pope Leo XIV has said his first foreign trip, to Turkey and Lebanon next month, would provide a historic opportunity to promote Christian unity while bringing a message of peace and hope to Lebanon's long-suffering people and the broader Middle East.

Leo outlined the trip, announced by the Vatican Tuesday on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel, during an encounter with reporters as he left the papal country estate south of Rome.

The UK’s public prosecution body Tuesday said it would appeal a court’s decision to drop a charge of supporting "terrorism" brought against a Northern Irish singer from rap group Kneecap.

"We are appealing the decision to dismiss this case as we believe there is an important point of law which needs to be clarified," a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said, referring to the case against Liam O’Hanna, also known by his stage name Mo Chara.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said the 2024 war with Israel was “a difficult and very complicated battle.”

“Throughout 40 years, we had not faced such a big pressure and such a big danger, but thank God we emerged from this battle with strength, determination, firmness and continuity, and God willing we shall continue,” Qassem said in a message to an Iranian ceremony marking two years since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel.

Lebanon Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday urged Hezbollah to surrender its weapons to the state "as soon as possible," warning the Iran-backed group it has run out of options.

"Hezbollah has no choice but to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state... because the state took this decision," Geagea told AFP in an interview from his residence in Maarab.

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal presented to Cabinet a detailed briefing about the first phase of the army’s plan to monopolize arms in the country, LBCI television said.

“He mentioned that it includes three main points: monopolizing arms south of the Litani, containing weapons across Lebanon and controlling the Palestinian camps, which means closing the gaps in the camps and limiting entry and exit to entrances controlled by the army,” LBCI added.

Druze leader and former chief of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblat held talks Tuesday with President Joseph Aoun in what he described as a "friendly" meeting.

"The visit was friendly and reassuring despite all the campaigns that are raising doubts," Jumblat said as he left the Baabda palace.

Two people were killed Tuesday in Israeli strikes that targeted the southern towns of Yater and Deir Aames, with Israel saying it had targeted members of Hezbollah.

One person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike on a car in Deir Aames.