Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea launched a scathing attack on Wednesday against the Change and Reform bloc led by MP Michel Aoun, accusing it of seeking to “change the political system” and noting that the LF voted for extending the parliament's term in order to prevent the fall of the state.

“It has become obvious that the aim of the Change and Reform bloc is toppling all state institutions as a prelude to changing the entire political system through a constituent assembly,” Geagea said at a press conference in Maarab, hours after the parliament voted to extend its own term for another 27 months.

Supporters of a pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah who has spent 30 years in French jail, were informed on Wednesday of a French court's decision on rejecting the ninth demand of his conditioned release.

They were notified at 3:45 pm during their sit-in in front of the French Embassy in Lebanon.

Lawmakers extended on Wednesday the mandate of the parliament until June 2017 amid a boycott by Christian MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement and the representatives of the Kataeb Party in the legislature.

FPM lawmakers from the Change and Reform bloc resorted to boycott while Marada Movement and Tashnag Party representatives in the bloc attended the session. But members of Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh's bloc voted for the extension as Tashnag's two lawmakers voted against it.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel has reiterated that the most important form of legislation is parliament's election of a new head of state, blaming the presidential vacuum for the extension of the lawmakers' mandate.

“The first necessary legislation lies in the election of a president,” Gemayel said during a visit to Paris.

When Islamic State militants retreated from the embattled town of Jurf al-Sakher last week, the Iraqi military was quick to flaunt a rare victory against the extremist group, with state television showing tanks and Humvees parading through the town and soldiers touring government buildings that had been occupied by the militants since August.

However, photos soon emerged on independent Iraqi news websites revealing a more discrete presence — the powerful Iranian general Ghasem Soleimani — whose name has become synonymous with the handful of victories attributed to Iraqi ground forces. Local commanders said Hizbullah was also on the front lines.

A 24-year-old Lebanese has given birth to premature quintuplets in the southern city of Tyre, the state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Aya Jameel Haidar had quintuplets – three girls and two boys – at the Hospital of Jabal Amel in Tyre, NNA said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi held talks on Wednesday with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abott, lashing out at the extension of the parliament's term.

“Simply, the extension of the tenure in democratic systems is illegal and unconstitutional,” al-Rahi stated as lawmakers are set to extend their term.

The emir of the al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, announced that the battle with Hizbullah in Lebanon didn't begin yet, vowing surprises along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

“Our brothers in al-Qalamoun region have many surprises... The real battle in Lebanon didn't start yet,” al-Joulani said in an audio message distributed online on Tuesday night.

The army opened fire overnight Tuesday at gunmen who tried to infiltrate into Lebanese territories through the northeastern border, media reports said.

Armed men reportedly targeted army posts in the northeastern border town of Arsal, compelling soldiers to retaliate by opening fire and forcing them to retreat, using light and medium weapons.

Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri said King Abdullah was keen on preserving the security and stability of Lebanon, stressing that Riyadh's military aid is aimed at helping the country confront terrorists.

Asiri made his remark as France and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on Tuesday for Paris to provide the Lebanese army with $3 billion worth of weapons paid for by Riyadh.