General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim stressed the importance of national unity in confronting the dangers facing Lebanon.

He said in an interview with the General Security magazine: “Lebanon will emerge victorious in its existential battle against organized terrorism.”

The General Security Intelligence Bureau raided two apartments inhabited by Syrians and detained several nationals, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

According to NNA, the first apartment lies in al-Saadiyat in the Shouf district, while the second in the area of Aramoun in Aley district.

An Israeli patrol crossed Lebanon's border and penetrated 50 meters into the outskirts of the southern town of Shebaa on Thursday, sparking a verbal dispute with peacekeepers from the Indian UNIFIL battalion who are positioned in the area.

“At 9:30 am, an Israeli enemy pedestrian patrol crossed the withdrawal line and penetrated 50 meters into the outskirts of the Jabal al-Shahel area in Shebaa inside Lebanese territory, before retreating to the occupied territories,” the Lebanese army said in a statement.

The Australian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a travel advice, warning its nationals against heading to several areas in the Lebanon that have witnessed unrest, and saying the situation could deteriorate “quickly.”

The advice, which was issued late on Wednesday, urged nationals not to head to the northern coastal city of Tripoli, areas in north Lebanon, Sir al-Dinniyeh and the northeastern border town of Arsal, citing security fears.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stressed on Thursday that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-Qaida don't exist in Lebanon, ruling out that jihadists established an Islamic "emirate" in northern Lebanon.

“Daesh and al-Qaida don't exist in Lebanon,” Rifi said in an interview published in the Saudi newspaper Okaz, holding Hizbullah responsible for the negative impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon after its involvement in the war raging in the neighboring country.

The negotiations on the release of the policemen and soldiers kidnapped by Islamist gunmen in August are still in their early phase in light of the recent demands made by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday.

An official source said that the negotiations are “positive, but no guarantees on their release are available.”

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil reiterated the Change and Reform bloc's rejection of the extension of the term of parliament, warning that such a measure will only increase political tensions, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Thursday.

He told the daily: “The extension will lead to more political instability.”

Unknown assailants opened fire at dawn at an army adjutant in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

The NNA reported that two unknown assailants riding a red motorcycle opened fire in the town's al-Jamarek Square at adjutant Ahmed Awdeh while he was heading to his work.

The army on Wednesday arrested a number of suspects in the northern district of Dinniyeh, the southern city of Sidon and the Bekaa towns of Taanayel and Brital.

France will begin shipping arms to the Lebanese army in the first quarter of next year, a defense ministry source in Paris said Wednesday, as part of a $3-billion deal financed by Saudi Arabia.

The shipment will consist of combat and transport helicopters, armored vehicles, anti-tank missiles and heavy artillery, the source added.