French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly spoke over the phone on the government stalemate in Lebanon before Macron’s press conference, RT international television reported Monday.

RT said that Macron and Salman discussed the cabinet deadlock, reportedly suggesting the name of ex-PM Saad Hariri as “a point of agreement” to lead the next cabinet, and “stressing the need to solve the Lebanese crisis.”

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday blasted Hizbullah and Amal Movement, criticized ex-PM Saad Hariri’s conduct in the cabinet formation negotiations and said Lebanese parties now have four to six weeks to form a new government or face “a different approach.”

President Michel Aoun on Sunday pledged that he will remain a “bulwark” in the face of “anyone trying to undermine the content” of his presidential oath of office.

“If a promise is sacred, an oath is much more sacred! The oath of respecting the Constitution and laws and preserving the country and its territorial integrity,” Aoun tweeted.

Following a request from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday deployed a detachment of multinational force to Beirut in order to assist Lebanese authorities with their efforts to deal with the aftermath of the tragic 4 August explosions, UNIFIL said.

The deployment early this morning follows the authorization by the U.N. Security Council for the Mission to take “temporary and special measures” to provide support to Lebanon and its people in the aftermath of the explosions.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri announced Sunday that he is not a candidate for the PM post following the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib.

“In view of what is circulating in the media, the press office of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stresses that he is not a candidate for the formation of the new government,” the office said in a statement.

Israel will hold rare talks with Lebanon next month in an effort to resolve a longstanding maritime border dispute, an Israeli official said.

The official said Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz will lead the Israeli delegation in talks mediated by the United States. Representatives from the three countries are likely to speak by video conference because of the coronavirus pandemic, the official said.

Gunmen opened fire on an army post in the northern area of Araman at dawn Sunday, triggering a shootout in which two soldiers and one gunman were killed, the army said.

Another gunman fled to an unknown destination, according to an army statement.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Saturday criticized Lebanon’s politicians for thwarting the French initiative to assist Lebanon, shortly after the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib over a Cabinet impasse.

“Such a degree of irresponsibility, when the fate of Lebanon and its people is at stake! Politicians, have you really scuppered this unique chance created by France? …” said Kubis in a tweet.

President Michel Aoun accepted the resignation of PM-designate Mustafa Adib and was set to "take the appropriate measures according to the requirements of the constitution", the president's office said Saturday.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea issued a statement on Saturday in which he congratulated PM-designate Mustafa Adib for stepping down “because he could not put his convictions into action.”

“My warm congratulations to PM Adib, even if we had not named him, because he is the first Lebanese official to resign when he saw an inability to translate his convictions,” said Geagea, shortly after Adib’s resignation from Baabda because of a Cabinet impasse.