Hizbullah assured on Friday that its relations with President Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement are “firm”, and assured that the party does not demur Aoun's travel to Saudi Arabia as the first trip the president is scheduled to take abroad, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Following the latest reports alleging that Aoun's scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia has “angered” Iran and “bemused” Hizbullah, party sources recalled the announcement of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah where he said “he has no problem with that,” the sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

President Michel Aoun met on Thursday with relatives of the servicemen kidnapped by the Islamic State extremist group, the National News Agency reported.

The meeting was held in the presence of General Security chief Maj. Gen.Abbas Ibrahim, NNA added.

Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh said Progressive Socialist Party has voiced reservations over the approval of cabinet decrees related to the oil excavation file, because it failed to recognize the establishment of a national company to represent the country, and to establish a sovereign fund to save the money, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Thursday.

PSP ministers, Hamadeh and State Minister for Human Rights, Ayman Shqeir, voiced reservations over the approval of the oil decrees during a cabinet session held on Wednesday.

President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri are determined to solve the crisis linked to the General Directory of State Security, and therefore director-general of the apparatus, Maj. Gen. George Qaraa was invited to attend the Higher Defense Council meeting at the Presidential Palace, al-Joumhouria daily reported Thursday.

The President will preside a meeting of the Higher Defense Council at 11:00 a.m. in Baabda, to give some guidance to the involved security chiefs, and determine the work of the Council in light of the powers conferred to it, the daily said.

The Cabinet approved Wednesday the long-awaited oil and gas decrees and appointed two successors to Abdul Menhem Youssef -- the controversial director general of the OGERO telecom authority who was also serving as director general of investment and maintenance at the telecom ministry.

Internal Security Forces in south Lebanon arrested a two-member gang, both Lebanese, involved in counterfeiting and circulating foreign money notes, the state-run National News Agency said on Wednesday.

After a close observation, ISF were able to arrest the gang on the Nabatieh-Zefta road, NNA added.

Hand grenades were tossed overnight at the residence of Bzal municipality chief in the northern Akkar district, leaving no causalities, the National News Agency reported Wednesday.

Unknown assailants tossed two hand grenades, shortly after midnight, at the residence of Mayor Firas Moussa inflicting damages on vehicles that were parked in front of the house, NNA said.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday declared national mourning over the Lebanese victims of Istanbul's nightclub massacre as the country bid farewell to three youths killed in the bloody attack.

Israeli troops opened gunfire at a Lebanese fishing boat opposite the border area of Ras al-Naqoura, the Army Command Orientation Directorate said in a statement on Monday.

“At 4:32 a.m., the Israeli enemy opened gunfire at a Lebanese fishing boat inside the Lebanese regional waters opposite Ras al-Naqoura, without causing any injuries,” said the statement.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi condemned on Monday the terror attack that targeted Turkey on New Year's eve, leaving many killed and wounded including Lebanese victims, the National News Agency reported.

Al-Rahi prayed for a speedy recovery for those who were wounded and injured, and patience for the families of the victims, NNA added.