Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday stressed that only the army should defend Lebanon's borders against armed attacks, as it called for preserving Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet, describing it as the guarantee for stability in this period.

“The protection of all aspects of stability must be at the core of the Lebanese officials' interests,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The Change and Reform bloc warned on Tuesday of attempts to naturalize Syrian and Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon, while highlighting the burden they are imposing on the country.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “We remind the international community of its obligations towards providing the refugees with aid, but hope that it will not reach a point that would lead to their naturalization.”

Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq stressed on Tuesday that the Naameh landfill, which lies in the Shouf district south of Beirut, will be closed on July 17.

The minister said during a meeting with the coalition of municipalities concerned with the closure of the controversial landfill that it will be transformed into a garden and electricity will be generated from it to neighboring towns.

A Qatari-appointed mediator reportedly met recently with al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front senior official to put the final touches on a deal to release the servicemen in the group's captivity since August last year.

The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat newspaper reported on Tuesday that the unnamed Qatari mediator, who was recently in Istanbul, met with the head of al-Nura Front in Syria to set a “logistic formula to start implementing an agreement” with the Lebanese state.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has ruled out vacancies at the country's top security posts over a dispute among the country's rival factions.

“We will not allow the important security posts to remain vacant,” Moqbel told An Nahar newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji reportedly refuses to tackle the presidential deadlock and the extension of high-ranking security officials with any side, stressing that he will carry out his duties and protect the country despite the political rift in the country.

“We should neglect the factional interests and prioritize the national interests,” Qahwaji's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas has revealed that Lebanese authorities are mulling to adopt a different approach with the United Nations over a dispute on the Syrian refugee crisis.

In remarks to local dailies published on Tuesday, Derbas accused the U.N. of procrastinating in informing Beirut on its share from the pledges made at the Kuwait donors conference that was held end of March.

A Lebanese army patrol came under gunfire from Syria on Monday as it was inspecting landmines near the border with the neighboring country, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

“It came under fire from the Syrian side of the border but no casualties were reported,” NNA said.

The Kataeb Party warned on Monday that the developments along Lebanon's border with Syria in the east “bring the country back into the circle of danger,” urging the adoption of protective measures to tackle them.

It said in a statement after its weekly politburo meeting: “The government should take the decision to deploy the army along the border with Syria.”

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour called on the political arch-foes to tackle the appointment of new top-ranking security officials with reason, urging them to safeguard the state institutions.

“It's illogical that the military institutions and security agencies are undergoing such a political debate,” Abou Faour told reporters on Monday after talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.