Israeli warplanes were seen flying at a low altitude over several towns in south Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Strong Republic MP Ziad Hawat sounded the alarm on Wednesday saying that smuggling through illegal crossings into Syria are draining the state’s resources and finances, noting that many crossings in Eastern Lebanon are under Hizbullah’s control.

Lebanon begins negotiations on Wednesday with the International Monetary Fund to reach an agreement on funding the government’s economic rescue plan, amid indicators the negotiations are going to be “long and arduous,” al-Joumhouia daily reported on Wednesday.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday hit back at Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh without naming him.

Lebanon's national anti-coronavirus committee on Tuesday called for a stricter implementation of the preventative measures in light of the spike in infections in recent days.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Tuesday said “the crazy rise in the prices of foodstuffs and commodities must be among the priorities” of the government.

The government on Tuesday decided to fully shut down the country from Wednesday evening until Monday morning at the recommendation of the health minister, in the wake of the biggest spike in weeks in the numbers of coronavirus cases.

Lebanon recorded eleven new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, as the Cabinet mulls upped measures and complete shutdown over the weekend to stop its spread.

President Michel Aoun said at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that legal measures will be taken if the safety rules against coronavirus were not respected.

All efforts are focused in Lebanon on controlling the sudden spike in the number of coronavirus cases, as the country “prepares to face a tough stage ahead,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.