More than 2,000 Syrian refugees are stranded in mountains overlooking the northeastern border town of Arsal, a nun involved in helping Syrian refugees in the country said on Thursday.

"Between 2,000 and 2,500 Syrians who left Arsal to return to their country now find themselves up above the town and not receiving any help because it is a military zone and NGOs can't reach them," Sister Agnes told Agence France Presse.

Tripoli municipality chief Nader Ghazal assured on Thursday that no “religious reasons” were behind removing beer ads in the northern city, explaining that this was instead due to legal violations committed by advertising companies.

Ghazal's declaration came during a visit to Kataeb Party MP Sami Gemayel, accompanied by Tripoli MP Samer Saade.

The council of ministers on Thursday approved the one billion dollar Saudi grant to the Lebanese army, as reports said the needs of the military institution and of the Internal Security Forces will be provided soon.

The cabinet also tasked Education Minister Elias Bou Saab with issuing passing statements to students who applied for official exams on Saturday at most, after negotiations failed with the Syndicate Coordination Committee.

Electricite du Liban Director General Kamal al-Hayek on Thursday said EDL was not a “barn,” denying that the law allowed all contract workers to become full-time employees after rising protests against the firm.

During a press conference he held at the Zouk power plant north of Beirut, al-Hayek said: “The law gave full authority to the EDL to decide on its needs for full-time employees.”

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged on Thursday 43 Syrians for belonging to armed terrorist groups, reported the National News Agency.

The suspects include Imad Ahmed Jomaa, whose arrest sparked clashes on August 2 between the army and Islamist gunmen in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Four people were wounded on Thursday when part of an under construction bridge collapsed in the southern region of Tyre, reported MTV.

It identified the wounded as Lebanese Hussein Ajami and Hussein Hijzai, Syrian Mohammed Abdullah, and Palestinian Chehadeh Mustapha.

The Lebanese army arrested on Thursday several Syrians during a raid in the northern district of Minieh-Dinniyeh, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The military raided al-Siddiq compound in the town of al-Minieh, which houses Syrian refugees, and arrested several young men, it said.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale announced on Thursday that his country will deliver an urgent aid to the Lebanese army within the upcoming few weeks which will continue in the months to follow.

“This assistance will enhance the LAF’s ability to secure Lebanon’s borders, protect Lebanon’s people, and fight these violent extremist groups,” Hale said after talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel at the Grand Serail.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has suggested to bring together Lebanon's top Christian political leaders in Rome but his proposal was rejected, An Nahar newspaper reported on Thursday.

Al-Rahi wanted to put the officials under “moral pressure to convince them to agree on a candidate for the presidency and agree on holding the elections,” the daily said.

Head of al-Mustaqbal Movement and former Premier MP Saad Hariri will reportedly return to Lebanon but will not settle in the country.

Sources close to al-Mustaqbal movement told al-Akhbar newspaper published on Friday, that Hariri will definitely return to Beirut in a time to be revealed later on.