Conflicting reports have emerged on whether Hezbollah is still cooperating with Lebanese authorities over the handover of its weapons in the area south of the Litani River near Israel’s border.

Political sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that “this cooperation has declined, which could lead to delaying the army’s mission in this region.”

Head of Hezbollah's Executive Council Sheikh Ali Damoush warned Thursday against dragging the Lebanese army into a confrontation with Hezbollah.

"Do not push the army into a confrontation with its people. The army's role is to face (foreign) aggressions, maintain civil peace, and ensure stability, not to confront the Lebanese people," he said, adding that Hezbollah's weakness is just "an illusion". "Those who bet that the resistance will surrender to pressure and threats are delusional."

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday lamented the “new attacks” on UNIFIL forces in south Lebanon, after reports said UNIFIL patrols were intercepted by residents in the towns of Jibsheet and al-Zrariyeh.

“The repeated attacks on U.N. forces show that security forces are not dealing with the facts on the ground with the necessary seriousness,” Geagea decried.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar on Thursday met with Bulgarian Ambassador to Lebanon Iassen Tomov and discussed with him the judicial and diplomatic measures related to the extradition of the owner of the Rhosus ship from Bulgaria to Lebanon.

Nassar lauded Bulgaria’s “cooperation and coordination in this regard” and agreed with Tomov on continued communication to hand over the detainee as soon as possible, knowing that there is an extradition treaty between Bulgaria and Lebanon.”

President Joseph Aoun's adviser Andre Rahal has met with Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, Hezbollah said in a statement.

The meeting on Wednesday evening discussed "a number of issues concerning the country's interests in a spirit of mutual understanding," the statement said.

Hezbollah’s disarmament is still topping the U.S. agenda for Lebanon, a Western diplomatic source said.

Quoting a U.S. official, the source told al-Joumhouria newspaper that “the situation in Lebanon will not remain as it is” and that Washington believes that “it will certainly witness a drastic transformation and a promising future.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri has said that “contrary to expectations, Cabinet’s decisions did not lead to a rift in the country” regarding the arms monopolization plan.

“The army does not want to use force against any group to carry out the mission it has been tasked with,” Mitri added, in an interview with Russia’s Sputnik radio network.

An Israeli strike on the eastern city of Baalbek has killed at least two people, the health ministry said.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported Wednesday that the strike was carried out by an Israeli drone.

The Lebanese Army said on Wednesday that it has seized 64 million captagon pills in the country's east in one of the largest operations against the illicit stimulant in the country.

Lebanon has faced pressure from Gulf states to counter the production and trafficking of drugs, particularly the amphetamine-like narcotic captagon, for which the conservative monarchies are a major market.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem on Wednesday made a video message to the wounded of the 2024 Israeli pager attacks, marking the first anniversary of the bloody operation that resembled the opening strike of an all-out war against Hezbollah.

He described the wounded of those attacks at the “pioneers of insight, the key to hope, and the love of eternal life in obedience to God Almighty.”