Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop of Beirut Elias Aude received the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Walid el-Bukhari on Friday at the Archdiocese in Ashrafieh, MTV station reported.

Lebanon’s multifaceted crises including a soaring economic crisis and the government’s failure to address any, are increasing pressure on the people and renewing calls to turn to the streets in protest.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi openly criticized Hizbullah on Thursday and blamed Lebanon’s compounded political, economic and financial crisis on its “hegemony” over the government and Lebanese politics.

Fifty-seven new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Lebanon on Thursday in addition to two more deaths.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri on Thursday described General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim’s talks with Arab countries and ambassadors as “necessary,” as he lashed out anew at Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil over recent statements.

“Maj. Gen. Ibrahim’s drive is necessary and we are in the Arab League. These nations, especially in the Gulf, stood by Lebanon, and today there is unprecedented regional escalation and we must be in communication with them in order to receive aid from them,” Hariri told reporters.

President Michel Aoun announced Thursday that Lebanon is “obliged” to defend itself whether or not it becomes a “neutral” country.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, two ex-Soviet republics in the Caucasus, have been locked in a decades-long territorial dispute which frequently erupts into deadly fighting. 

Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned on Thursday in an interview with the Middle East News Agency that “the situation in Lebanon is very dangerous,” and criticized the response of the political class to the crippling economic crisis in the country.

Iranian Ambassador Mohammed-Jalal Firouznia said on Thursday from Dimane, after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi, that Iran is open to provide assistance for Lebanon and that it “does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”

The Central Bank of Lebanon said in a statement on Thursday that it formed a committee to restructure Lebanon's financially hit commercial banks.