British Minister for the Middle East James Cleverly on Thursday stressed the UK’s support for Lebanon and voiced concern over the delay in forming a new government, during talks with top Lebanese officials.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon's Pre-Trial Judge, Daniel Fransen, will hold a fourth Status Conference on December 16, 2020 with the aim of reviewing the status of the Ayyash case and ensuring the expeditious preparation for trial, through an exchange between the Prosecution, Defense and Legal Representatives of the Victims, the STL said.

The Ayyash case relates to the three attacks against Lebanese politicians Marwan Hamade, Georges Hawi and Elias Murr on 1 October 2004, 21 June 2005 and 12 July 2005 respectively. The Pre-Trial Judge has confirmed an indictment in this case against the Accused -- Hizbullah operative Salim Jamil Ayyash, who is charged with five counts.

British Minister for the Middle East James Cleverly, who met Thursday with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker PM Hassan Diab and PM-designate Saad Hariri, has written an op-ed on the occasion of his official visit to Lebanon.

The French embassy issued a press release Thursday on the conclusions of the co-presidencies (France and United Nations) - conference in support of the Lebanese population.

President Michel Aoun signed a law on Thursday approving compensation for individuals affected by the colossal Beirut port blast, the National News Agency reported.

NNA said Aoun signed law number 196 aimed at providing compensation and pensions to the victims’ families, and enabling health benefits for the disabled from the National Social Security Fund, and from a law related to the rights of people with special needs.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed that Lebanese nationals kidnapped earlier this week in Nigeria were all "safe," amid ongoing efforts to free them, the National News Agency reported Thursday.

NNA said Lebanon’s Ambassador to Nigeria Hossam Diab, informed the Ministry that the kidnapped Lebanese were all doing well.

Countering reports published in Lebanese media, France said it handed Lebanese authorities as requested the satellite images of the port of Beirut before the August 4 blast ripped through the capital, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Israeli warplanes overflew Beirut, Dahiyeh, Metn, the South and a number of regions at low and medium altitudes on Wednesday evening, media reports said.

The roaring of the fighter jets was clearly heard over the capital Beirut and its suburbs.

President Michel Aoun on Wednesday urged the international community not to “abandon the country of the cedars,” as he noted that the priority is to “form a government while applying the same criteria to all political forces.”

Speaking at a Paris-organized international virtual conference for rallying humanitarian aid for Lebanon, Aoun thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for “the unwavering support he is always demonstrating for Lebanon.”

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that he will visit Lebanon for a third time this year in order to “pressure the political class.”

“I'll return to Lebanon this month to pressure the political class and politicians must form a government to conduct reforms or else there will not be international aid,” Macron said at the start of an international videoconference on humanitarian aid for Lebanon.