President Michel Aoun has received a cable from Syrian President Bashar Assad, greeting him on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Lebanese Independence, Russia Today website said on Thursday.

In his message Assad wished that “Lebanon will enjoy stability and security, and that it will proceed towards progress and prosperity,” the Syrian President said in the message.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe received a message from his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, relayed to him through the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

Bringing the government formation talks back to square one reportedly "serve" Hizbullah and its backer, Iran, which prefers to push the consultations until after US President-elect Joe Biden assumes his constitutional duties, succeeding President Donald Trump, the Saudi Asharq el-Awsat reported on Thursday.

Ján Kubiš, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific have briefed the United Nations Security Council virtually on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) based on the latest report of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The Special Coordinator highlighted “the importance of continuous support for UNIFIL, that plays a critical role in maintaining calm along the Blue line, security and stability in the South and in the region,” said a statement issued by Kubiš’ office.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s latest meeting with President Michel Aoun “ended with deep negativity after the President insisted on naming the Christian ministers,” al-Jadeed TV reported on Wednesday.

“Hariri submitted a near-complete line-up in terms of the distribution of portfolios and names except for what relates to the security portfolios,” al-Jadeed added.

Lebanon on Wednesday reported 2,084 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths, five days into a two-week lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

The new cases raise the country’s overall tally since February 21 to 110,037 while the fatalities take the death toll to 852.

Israeli warplanes were on Wednesday staging intensive mock raids over south Lebanon, the National News Agency said.

“Since 2:20 pm, Israeli warplanes have been carrying out intensive mock raids at medium altitude over the Nabatiyeh and Iqlim al-Tuffah regions,” the state-run NNA said.

President Michel Aoun has received a cable from U.S. President Donald Trump, greeting him on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Lebanese Independence, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

“In the name of the people of the United States of America, I would like to wish the Lebanese people all the best, while celebrating their independence anniversary,” Trump said in the cable.

The streets of the southern city of Sidon flooded with garbage on Wednesday as migrant workers went on a strike for the third consecutive day.

Garbage piled up on the streets of the city, and in the overcrowded Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Ghada Aoun on Wednesday accused the Special Investigation Commission at the Central Bank of Lebanon of “procrastination and refusing to practice its job.”