Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed Wednesday that “the continuation of the resistance is a necessity for everyone” and that “it is Lebanon’s strength,” days after the Lebanese government approved a Lebanese Army plan for disarming Hezbollah and all armed groups in the country.

“We call for a return to priorities, which are ending the aggression, Israel’s withdrawal from the South, the release of the Lebanese captives, and the start of the reconstruction process,” Qassem said in a televised speech marking Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met Wednesday in Ain el-Tineh with the deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, Hamid Reza Haji Babaei, who was accompanied by a delegation.

“It was an opportunity for us to affirm, through our visit to His Excellency Speaker Nabih Berri, our support and endorsement of Lebanese national unity, solidarity and unity among all segments of the dear Lebanese people,” Babaei said.

The Jounieh Touristic Port was reopened Tuesday evening under the slogan "Jounieh Touristic Port... A Sea of ​​Opportunities," under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun, who was represented by Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny, and at the invitation of MP Neemat Frem, as part of a joint initiative between the public and private sectors.

“Three generations are looking forward to this port. The sixties generation remembers the most beautiful times when Lebanon was the Switzerland of the East. There is the eighties generation, who see a different time when we could breathe towards the world only through it. Today's generation will see this port as the new, beautiful time, the new, and joyful Lebanon, a time that will attract tourists instead of ensuring the flight of citizens," Frem said in a speech.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam revealed in an interview with An-Nahar newspaper that the Arab and international reactions to the September 5 cabinet session that endorsed the army’s weapons monopoly plan were “totally positive, the same as the domestic reactions to the session’s decisions.”

President Joseph Aoun condemned Tuesday the Israeli attack that targeted the residences of several members of Hamas’ political bureau, noting that they were “involved in negotiations to end the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and put an end to the massacres committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.”

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Tuesday that “Hezbollah granted the government its confidence twice based on its ministerial statement which we are implementing.”

Noting that his relation with Speaker Nabih Berri “has never been severed,” Salam stressed from Ain el-Tineh that “there will be no backing down from the government’s decisions” on weapons monopolization.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Tuesday in Ain el-Tineh with Speaker Nabih Berri.

MTV described the move as a “reconciliation” visit.

Israeli air strikes hit areas of the central and western Syrian cities of Homs and Latakia late Monday, state news agency SANA reported.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Monday that “Lebanon’s stability is not only a Lebanese need but also a joint Arab need,” stressing that the government “will carry on with the implementation of its decisions as to the monopolization of arms in the hands of the state across Lebanon.”

“After it returned to its natural position among its Arab brothers, Lebanon needs boosting support for the Lebanese Army, seeing as it is the main pillar for protecting the country,” Salam added.

Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said Monday that the Israeli withdrawal should be the priority and not Hezbollah's disarmament, adding that "unbiased polls have showed that the majority of the Lebanese people reject the government's decision (to disarm Hezbollah)."

Fayyad assured that the army, which was tasked with the disarmament plan, won't be dragged into a conflict with Hezbollah. "The Lebanese army is keen on maintaining unity and peace," he said.