General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim held talks on Friday with UNIFIL Commander Michael Beary, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Talks highlighted the situation on Lebanon's southern border and the ways of coordination between the peacekeeping troops and the General Security apparatus.

President Michel Aoun has invited all parties concerned with the wage scale file for a dialogue meeting on Monday, in order to become “acquainted with the different points of view in preparation for exercising his constitutional right”, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

British Chargé d’Affaires Ben Wastnage emphasized that the Lebanese army is the “sole legitimate defender of Lebanon,” as he reiterated the UK's support for the military institution, a press release said.

“I reaffirmed the UK’s support to the Lebanese Armed Forces as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon, who successfully and highhandedly repelled an invasion by Daesh in 2014, and which is a cornerstone of Lebanese sovereignty,” said Wastnage after a meeting he held with Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday.

The Lebanese army has shelled the posts of the Islamic State group on the outskirts of the eastern border towns of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek, the Army Command-Orientation Directorate said in statement on Thursday.

The Lebanese government is facing the “most difficult situation” since its formation, as ministers of Hizbullah and Amal Movement plan to travel to Syria “not according to a cabinet decision,” media reports said on Thursday.

"The government is in the worst situation since its formation. Although it passed through a period where it was unable to keep up with a number of accumulated files related to the State and people's interests, but here it is today facing an unenviable situation,” as for its relations with Syria, a ministerial source told al-Joumhouria daily.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday that is “extremely alarmed” at a pattern of recent airstrikes that have killed and injured “dozens of civilians” in the Saada and Taez governorates in Yemen.

President Michel Aoun chaired a meeting of the Higher Defense Council on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda to discuss the security situation in the country, as the army braces for a battle against jihadists, the State-run National News Agency reported.

The meeting was attended in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the member Ministers and leaders of the military and security apparatuses, said NNA.

The United States has reportedly warned “of depriving Lebanon of military assistance” shall the Lebanese army coordinate efforts with Hizbullah and the Syrian regime during its expected battle against the Islamic State group on the country's eastern border, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

President Michel Aoun invited the Higher Defense Council for a meeting at the Baabda Palace on Tuesday to discuss the security situation in the country, the National News Agency reported.

Aoun's call came as the army gears up to battle the Islamic State militants in eastern Lebanon.

Foreign Minister and Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil said on Monday that it is “normal for the army to be the one to liberate Lebanese territories,” pointing out that the country is celebrating the “restoration of decision making which has been absent before.”