Prime Ministers Saad Hariri on Tuesday chaired part of the meeting of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority that was held at the Grand Serail to follow up on the ongoing operations to extinguish the massive wildfires that engulfed several Lebanese areas.

Lebanon ordered investigations into the reasons that rendered three firefighting Sikorsky helicopters idle, as the country struggles to extinguish wildfires that burned out of control on Tuesday.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali said the Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil should have used a “more calculated” rhetoric when speaking about displaced Syrians taking their feelings into consideration, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

Lebanon continued to put out wildfires on Tuesday, which burned acres of land and destroyed dozens of homes in mountainous areas mainly in the Chouf region amid an unprecedented heatwave.

The National News Agency reported in the afternoon that "the fires in the Mechref area have been extinguished as a convoy of UNIFIL peacekeepers, vehicles and firefighting vehicles moved to Mazraat al-Dahr and al-Dibbiyeh to contribute to fighting the raging fires."

Industry Minister Wael Abu Faour on Monday accused Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil of seeking to visit Syria in order to boost his chances of becoming the country’s upcoming president.

“You are rallying at this square, the square of national unity, freedom, sovereignty and independence, the square of Gebran Tueni, Samir Kassir and Rafik Hariri. You are rallying to raise your voice in defense of freedom and democracy, which are facing new attacks,” Abu Faour told a demo organized by the Progressive Socialist Party at downtown Beirut’s Martyrs Square.

The government's discussions on the 2020 state budget suffered a setback on Monday as Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil’s plans to visit Syria sparked controversy.

"The financial and economic situation is very critical and does not bear a breach of the government's policy statement and Arab consensus," Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani of the Lebanese Forces said after a cabinet session at the Grand Serail.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday met at the Grand Serail with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was accompanied by a delegation from the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) led by Hashem Haidar.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Monday lashed out at Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil without naming him.

“Remember that they (Syrian forces) entered (Lebanon) over Kamal Jumblat’s blood and withdrew over Rafik Hariri’s blood. You are falsifying history and ridiculing your sacrifices and our sacrifices,” Jumblat tweeted, apparently referring to Bassil’s speech in Hadath on Sunday and his remarks Saturday at the Arab League.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri replied on Monday to the controversial remarks of Free Patriotic Movement leader and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil about his intention to visit Syria in order “to repatriate the Syrian refugees.”

Hariri said the 2005 martyrdom of his slain father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri was what made possible the ousting of the Syrian army from Lebanon.

President Michel Aoun said on Monday that officials disagree in politics in Lebanon and the heat of debate intensifies, but that “does not affect freedom of belief, freedom of faith or the right of difference."

At the first annual Levantine Gathering held at the Hilton - Habtoor Hotel, Aoun said that Lebanon embodies a pluralistic diversity and its role and mission must remain a land of convergence and dialogue, rejecting all forms of intellectual and religious extremism.