A hand grenade was hurled Saturday evening at a bank branch in the southern city of Sidon, the National News Agency said.

"Unknown individuals threw a hand grenade at Fransabank's branch on the city's Riad al-Solh Street, which smashed its glass facade and false ceiling," NNA said.

MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Saturday criticized PM Hassan Diab’s latest statement, pointing to “conspiracies” against the “Sunni community and Sunni politicians.”

Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited on Saturday the Internal Security Forces Directorate and held talks with its chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman.

France reportedly advises Lebanon against any “reckless” move after allegations the “authority” plans to dismiss the country’s central bank governor from his post over the deteriorating financial conditions, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Lebanon confirmed two new deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, and eight new infections from the COVID-19.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri lashed out Friday at Prime Minister Hassan Diab and the rival political parties, accusing them of seeking revenge against “an entire era” while attempting to destroy “the free economic system.”

Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Friday launched a scathing attack on Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and said there is “suspicious ambiguity” in his handling of the monetary situation.

The COVID-19 outbreak has “translated into a major education crisis” and while many countries, including Lebanon, switched to distance teaching and learning to mitigate the effects of such disruption, challenges related to preparedness, infrastructure and capacity, as well as the digital gaps, have put additional strains on students, parents, teachers, principals and the educational authorities, the U.N. said Friday.

The Cabinet on Friday endorsed a five-phase plan to reopen the country and end the coronavirus lockdown, following a recommendation from the Higher Defense Council and directions from Lebanon's anti-coronavirus committee.

The first phase will begin on April 27, the second on May 4, the third on May 11, the fourth on May 25 and the fifth on June 8, the Cabinet said.

The Health Ministry announced eight new cases of coronavirus on Friday, raising the total number of people who retracted the virus to 696.