The Lebanese Army on Wednesday opened fire at an Israeli drone over the southern border town of Mays al-Jabal, the National News Agency said.

The drone, which was not hit, was flying over the Kroum al-Sharraqi area, NNA said.

Seven people have been injured in a clash between Baouchriyeh residents and members of the Zoaiter family who live in the area, MTV reported on Wednesday.

The TV network said the tensions erupted Tuesday following a confrontation between a bus driver from the Zoaiter family and Baouchriyeh residents.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab held separate talks Wednesday with a World Bank delegation and Lebanon’s Association of Banks chief Salim Sfeir.

Diab’s meeting with the World Bank team was held away from reporters’ eyes according to TV networks.

President Michel Aoun announced Wednesday that a “new phase” started after the new government won parliament’s confidence.

“The financial and economic crises can no longer be resolved in an easy manner and they now require measures that will be relatively painful for the Lebanese,” Aoun said.

SGBL Deputy CEO Stanislas Tertrais, who is a French official, confirmed Wednesday that Société Générale (France) has not ended its participation in the Lebanese bank.

“Société Générale (France) owns an SGBL share amounting to 16.79% of the total number of stocks and it is a member of its board of directors,” Tertrais said, adding that the 2019 results of Société Générale (France) did not entail any change as to its continued participation in Société Générale de Banque au Liban S.A.L.

A group of international lenders have formed a group to talk to the Lebanese government about its options regarding its foreign debt, distressed-debt investor Greylock Capital Management said on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab held talks Wednesday at Dar al-Fatwa with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, a day after his government won parliament’s confidence.

“After the government won parliament’s confidence, His Eminence the Mufti of the Republic called me and we agreed on this meeting, that’s why my visit today is very normal,” Diab said after the talks.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon said on Wednesday that it was necessary for Lebanon to pay $1.2 billion Eurobonds due to be paid in March to “protect depositors, preserve Lebanon’s position in international financial markets and preserve its relations with correspondent banks.”

Head of the parliamentary Independent Center bloc MP Najib Miqati on Wednesday voiced calls for reducing the term of the current parliament and hence staging early parliamentary elections.

The International Support for Lebanon issued a statement on Wednesday reaffirming support for Lebanon and calling on PM Hassan Diab’s government to stop and reverse the deepening crises and address the needs of Lebanese.