When it comes to Lebanon, the US and France have similar outlooks, but one major point of difference involves the Hizbullah movement -- shunned by Washington but tolerated by a pragmatic Parisian leadership.

An armed clash broke out Monday evening in the “Garage Darwish” area in Beirut’s Tariq al-Jedideh neighborhood, TV networks said.

The National News Agency said heavy gunfire was being heard in the area as reports said at least one shoulder-fired rocket was fired.

Lebanon recorded nine deaths and 400 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Monday evening.

The Ministry said 393 of the cases were recorded among residents, who include 11 health workers, and seven among people coming from abroad.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh held talks Monday in Clemenceau with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.

“We offered our condolences over the port martyrs and wished recovery for the wounded and Lebanon is capable of returning to stability and unity,” said Haniyeh after the meeting.

The Free Patriotic Movement on Monday responded fiercely to criticism voiced a day earlier by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

“Anytime a positive course begins to address one of Lebanon’s crises, LF leader Samir Geagea surprises the Lebanese with a negative rhetoric that poisons the atmosphere of hope,” the FPM said in a statement.

President Michel Aoun on Monday held phone talks with Jordanian King Abdullah II to inquire about the reasons behind the closure of Jordan’s Nassib border crossing in the face of Lebanese agricultural goods, the National News Agency said.

“He asked him to intervene to open the crossing to 60 trucks carrying dozens of tons of fresh Lebanese vegetables and fruits,” NNA added.

President Michel Aoun on Monday held talks with caretaker Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni over a contract with a foreign firm aimed at carrying out a forensic audit of the accounts of the central bank.

“The meeting was dedicated to discussing the issue of the contract with the Alvarez & Marsal firm that will carry out a forensic audit of the accounts of Banque du Liban, in order to clarify some ambiguities that occurred after the signing of the contract,” the National News Agency said.

Lead judicial investigator into the Beirut port blast Judge Fadi Sawwan on Monday heard the testimonies of four witnesses and will question more witnesses on Tuesday, the National News Agency said.

Sawwan also dismissed motions for the release of three detainees in the case, remanding them in custody.

Director of Media Focal Center, Salem Zahran, filed a complaint on Monday with the Public Prosecution Office to investigate the “waste of public funds" in the Ministry of Economy and Trade specifically in subsidized food commodities.

Israeli troops carried out maintenance work using a bobcat bulldozer in the occupied territories off Lebanon’s Marjayoun plains, the National News Agency reported on Monday.