Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri made on Friday a surprise return to Beirut and met with Premier Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail to discuss a Saudi military aid.

Hariri left Lebanon in early 2011, months after the collapse of his national unity cabinet. He has repeatedly claimed that security reasons were preventing his return to Beirut.

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat has warned that all of Lebanon's factions were facing a terrorist threat, saying the rival Lebanese parties should overcome their divisions and al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri should return to Beirut.

Officials close to Jumblat told As Safir newspaper published on Friday that the PSP leader is seeking to create a “political safety net,” under which all parties would end their differences and focus on their mutual interests.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expressed gratitude on Thursday for the support that Saudi Arabia offers to Lebanon and in particular the military, considering it to be the main reason behind “thwarting conspiracy schemes and maintaining stability in Lebanon.”

“The generous aid (for the Lebanese army) came at the appropriate time,” Qahwaji said in an interview with the Saudi newspaper Okaz.

Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security, al-Mustaqbal movement leader and ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri told reporters in Jeddah on Wednesday, accusing Hizbullah of being partly responsible for the clashes between troops and jihadists in the northeastern border region of Arsal.

King Abdullah "has informed me of his generous decision to provide the Lebanese army... with one billion dollars to strengthen its capabilities to preserve Lebanon's security," Hariri told reporters in Jeddah.

Speaker Nabih Berri has praised Saudi King Abdullah for pledging to accelerate delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army under a Saudi-financed deal and lauded al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri over his stance on the fighting in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Abdullah's pledge “came as a result of phone conversations I made with Saudi officials to mobilize the $3 billion Saudi grant,” Berri told his visitors.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri reiterated staunch support to the Lebanese army in its battle against terrorism, rejecting attempts to cover up for Hizbullah's engagement in the fight raging in neighboring country Syria.

“Our support to the army against gunmen who infiltrated (the northeastern border town of) Arsal is steadfast that will not undergo political bids,” Hariri said in a statement issued by his press office on Tuesday.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri has expressed full support for the Lebanese army and security forces, saying he stood by them to regain control of the northeastern border town of Arsal.

“Neither the state nor us would stand idle to the destructive plots of Takfiri groups,” Hariri told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published on Monday.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader MP Saad Hariri on Friday lauded a speech by Saudi King Abdullah, saying it “raised the alarm” over the threats of terrorism in the region and the continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinians.

In a statement issued only two hours after the monarch delivered his address, Hariri described the king's remarks as “historic and highly important,” saying they “accurately reflect the painful situation that the Arab region is going through due to the proliferation of terrorism.”

Efforts are underway in order to show solidarity among the Lebanese media towards the Christians in the Iraqi city of Mosul in light of their persecution by the jihadist Islamic State, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Thursday.

General Manager of Future television Ramzi Jubaili told the daily that invitations have been distributed to hold a meeting at 3:00 p.m. on Monday to discuss ideas over how to “demonstrate our rejection of the extremism in Mosul.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lauded on Thursday the roadmap established by al-Mustaqbal leader Saad Hariri, calling on parties to abide by it.

Al-Rahi described in remarks published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper Hariri's initiative as “excellent,” pointing out that it “should be implemented.”