The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday called for restraint after rocket fire from southern Lebanon targeted Israel.

The Israeli army said it intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon Thursday after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside al-Aqsa Mosque -- Islam's third-holiest site -- drew warnings of retaliation from around the region.

Israel's army said it had "identified 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory" and that 25 were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

The Internal Security Forces on Thursday announced foiling an attempt to use a drone to smuggle drugs into the central Roumieh Prison.

In a statement, the ISF said a drone was detected hovering over Roumieh’s convicts ward on March 31, which prompted the prison’s guards to seize it.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has revealed that the Qatari delegation that visited Lebanon had stressed that Doha “has no candidates.”

Qatar rather supports “the idea of having a program and a roadmap,” Bassil said in an interview with al-Joumhouria newspaper, noting that “an integrated plan consists of a president, a premiers and a rescue plan.”

Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh is so close to securing the 65 votes needed for his election as president, minister Ziad Makari said.

Makari added that what Franjieh cares about is to be elected with a national consensus.

A “day of prayer and contemplation” that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had called for, started Wednesday at Beit Anya in Harissa.

Fifty-three Christian MPs attended the spiritual meeting, that aims at unifying and connecting the Christian blocs amid a severe presidential crisis.

A French judicial delegation will return in Lebanon on April 24, media reports said.

The report said that the delegation has asked Judge Charbel Abu Samra to question on its behalf Riad Salameh's brother, Raja, and his associate Marianne Hoayek on April 25.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has opened the door for the municipal elections nominations starting Wednesday April 5 in the North, April 12 in Mount Lebanon, April 19 in Beirut and Bekaa and April 26 in the South.

The municipal elections will start on May 7 in the North, on May 14 in Mount Lebanon, on May 21 in Beirut and in Bekaa, and on May 28 in the South, Mawlawi said Monday, as he urged the government to secure the necessary funds and complete the administrative preparations.

The minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Mohammed bin Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, in a shuttle tour between the Lebanese leaders over the presidential file.

The Qatari minister also met with Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.

The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, on Monday welcomed an announcement by caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi calling for municipal elections during 7 May through 28 May 2023.

“Conducting the municipal elections is important for adhering to Lebanon’s constitutional timelines and democratic practices, at a time when the country is already facing a presidential vacancy and widespread institutional paralysis,” Wronecka said.