U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson said that “if Lebanon continues down the path it is on now, it can shine with the light of new beginnings.”

“With historic cabinet decisions in August and September to disarm all non-state groups in the country, the Lebanese government has a historic opportunity to reclaim Lebanon’s sovereignty for the Lebanese people,” Johnson noted, in a speech during a reception marking the 249th anniversary of the U.S. Independence Day.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday responded statements by Speaker Nabih Berri about the electoral law.

“You’ve said that Amal and Hezbollah cannot manage their electoral campaigns abroad and freely practice their electoral rights without facing harassment, in order to justify your rejection of expats voting abroad for the 128 seats. Accordingly, you are clinging to the six districts mentioned in the current law for expat voting,” Geagea said.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) condemned Friday Israeli air strikes on five towns in southern Lebanon.

"Last night’s strikes by Israel in south Lebanon are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and put the fragile stability that has been built since November of last year at risk. They further undermine civilians' confidence that a non-violent solution to this conflict is possible," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that peacekeepers continue to support both parties in their implementation of resolution 1701 and that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army are on the ground each day, working to restore stability to the south and along the Blue Line.

The Lebanese army, tasked to draw up a plan to disarm Hezbollah, said Thursday that the Israeli strikes on south Lebanon risk slowing down Hezbollah's disarmament.

"These assaults and violations obstruct the army's deployment in the south, and their continuation will hinder the implementation of its plan starting from the area south of the Litani River," the army said in a statement, adding that the attacks brought Israel's ceasefire "violations" to 4,500.

President Joseph Aoun met Friday in Baabda with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and discussed with him the latest Israeli attacks on south Lebanon and the Bekaa and the ongoing contacts to address these developments, the Presidency said.

Aoun and Salam also tackled the 2026 draft state budget and the general situations, ahead of the president’s travel on Saturday to New York to take part in the annual meetings of the U.N. General Assembly.

President Joseph Aoun has condemned the Israeli air strikes on five towns in southern Lebanon and "the silence of the countries who had sponsored" the ceasefire, which he said "encourages further aggression".

"The time has come to put an immediate end to these blatant violations of Lebanon's sovereignty," he said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Thursday slammed Israel’s disregard for the ceasefire mechanism, urging the international community to exert utmost pressure on Israel to halt its attacks, after Israeli strikes targeted three southern towns following evacuation warnings.

"Lebanon calls on the international community, and particularly the countries that sponsored the ceasefire agreement, to exert maximum pressure on Israel to immediately halt its attacks," Salam said amidst a cabinet meeting.

The Israeli army on Thursday bombed three southern towns after issuing an “urgent warning” for residents to evacuate areas in Mays al-Jabal, Kfar Tebnit and Dibbin.

The strikes targeted two buildings in Mays al-Jabal, one in Kfar Tebnit and Dibbin. Al-Jadeed television said a Syrian worker was lightly wounded in Mays al-Jabal.

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."