Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed Hizbullah Wednesday by accusing the group of dragging Lebanon into several wars.

"If its weapons are against Israel, why is Hizbullah dragging us into wars in other places," al-Rahi asked in a TV interview.

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has welcomed a statement by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regarding Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the Gulf.

"We look forward to carry on with the constructive measures aiming at restoring the Lebanon-Gulf ties," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed a statement issued by Prime Minister Najib Miqati regrading Lebanon’s desire to repair its ties with the kingdom and the other Arab Gulf nations.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes the positive points” included in Miqati’s remarks, hoping that will contribute to “restoring Lebanon’s role and standing in the Arab and international arenas.”

At least four Israelis were killed Tuesday in a stabbing attack outside a shopping center and a gas station in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, Al-Jazeera TV reported.

The TV network added that the attacker was also killed in the incident.

Raja Salameh, the detained brother of Central Bank chief Riad Salameh, was questioned Tuesday by Financial Attorney General Judge Jean Tannous over the file of the brokerage firm that he owns, Forry Associates Ltd, al-Jadeed TV said.

The TV network added that Salameh was not interrogated by Mount Lebanon First Examining Magistrate Nicolas Mansour due to the Covid-19 infection of a judicial clerk at Mt. Lebanon’s investigations department.

The detained harbormaster of Beirut’s port, Mohammed al-Mawla, has filed a request through his lawyer for transferring the port blast case from the hands of Judge Tarek Bitar to another lead investigative judge.

The request cites the current suspension of investigations and keenness on the proper conduct of justice.

Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday on whether a court of appeals has ordered the removal of red wax seals from the assets of Fransabank.

"The reports saying the seals have been removed from Fransabank's assets are baseless and the Court of Appeals' ruling prevents the removal of the seals, contrary to what is being rumored," the United for Lebanon activist group said.

President Michel Aoun has defended Hizbullah in an interview in Rome with leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

“Hizbullah has no influence in any way on the security situation of the Lebanese inside the country. As for the southern border, there is ongoing cooperation between the army and the UNIFIL forces,” Aoun said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres takes note of the judgement delivered by the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon in which Hassan Merhi and Hussein Oneissi were convicted in relation to the 14 February 2005 attack in Beirut that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others and injured 226 more, his spokesman said.

Noting that Merhi and Oneissi “remain at large,” the spokesman said “the Secretary-General’s thoughts are with the victims of the 14 February attack and their families.”

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held talks Monday in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after arriving in the country on a previously unannounced visit, Israeli and Arab media reports said.

Israeli media reports meanwhile said that Bennett will also hold a tripartite summit with al-Sisi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed.