Protesters in the northern city of Tripoli blocked al-Beddawi highway to protest the detention of a group of activists arrested by the Lebanese army overnight, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on Thursday ruled out an imminent financial collapse in the country as he reassured that no bank will go bankrupt.

“There is a crisis and difficulties, but not a collapse,” Salameh said in an interview with Lebanon’s MTV.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday denied media reports claiming that he has called for the formation of a “political government” as well as suggestions that he does not want Hassan Diab to lead the new government.

“The situation in the region is very bad and the situation in Lebanon is unfortunately changing from bad to worse,” Berri said in a chat with reporters in Ain el-Tineh.

A Hizbullah delegation led by politburo chief Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed held talks Thursday in Bkirki with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

“What we know is that all parties, from the PM-designate to the rest of parties and political forces, are keen on the formation of a government as soon as possible,” Sayyed said after the meeting.

As Lebanon’s protest against the ruling elite approaches its third month, protesters targeted on Thursday the offices of Electricity du Liban over worsening power outages with the country in the grip of political and economic turmoil.

Lebanon banned former auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn from travelling on Thursday after questioning him over an Interpol "red notice" of charges of financial misconduct in Japan, judicial sources said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Thursday suggested that ex-chairman of Nissan-Renault Carlos Ghosn be named as Lebanon’s energy minister.

Deposits in foreign currencies, especially in US dollar are reportedly “safe” in Lebanese banks but the formation of a government is necessary to stop Lebanon’s economic “collapse,” the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa daily reported on Thursday.

Sources close to Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab on Wednesday denied that any changes have been introduced to the latest cabinet line-up that he has presented to President Michel Aoun, including the appointment of Demianos Qattar as a minister.

“The PM-designate is the one forming the government and he has conducted complete consultations that have never returned to square one,” the sources told LBCI TV.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday Iran appeared to be "standing down" after missile strikes on U.S. troop bases in Iraq that resulted in no American or Iraqi deaths.

"All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases. Our great American forces are prepared for anything," he said in an address to the nation from the White House.