Defense Minister Michel Menassa on Wednesday clarified that the Hamat Air base in north Lebanon is “a Lebanese air base belonging to the Lebanese Army Air Force” and that “no other entity within it has any authority or power above Lebanese laws.”

"Recently, news, reports, and writings have increased regarding the military airbase in the Hamat area of the Batroun district in North Lebanon. Some of these are questions and inquiries, some are speculations and scenarios, and some are linked to developments and movements in the region and neighboring countries,” Menassa said.

The Foreign Office in Berlin has warned of a deterioration in the security situation in Lebanon should a war be waged on Iran, cautioning that “in the event of further escalation, flight restrictions could occur at any time.”

It advised German nationals to closely follow travel and security advice and to stock up on food, water and fuel.

The Israeli army dropped overnight into Wednesday stun grenades on the southern border town of Aita al-Shaab and detonated houses in Marwahin and Odaysseh.

Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, usually saying it was targeting the group. Troops frequently enter into Lebanese territories on the border and detonate houses there. The Israeli army is also occupying five hills in south Lebanon.

The Lebanese Presidency has not received any warnings suggesting that Israel will attack Lebanon’s infrastructure if Hezbollah backs Iran militarily, a minister close to President Joseph Aoun said.

“The Lebanese Presidency received reassurances through Speaker Nabih Berri that Hezbollah will not interfere in the war,” the minister told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

The European Union and Samir Kassir Foundation launched Wednesday the 21st edition of the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press.

The award, which has been granted by the European Union since 2006, honors the Lebanese journalist and writer Samir Kassir, who was assassinated in 2005. The competition for the award has attracted since its creation more than 3,900 candidates from the Middle East, the Gulf and North Africa and 57 journalists have won the award so far.

As Lebanon prepares for its parliamentary elections, reports say the country is under pressure to postpone the juncture.

A report published Tuesday in pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said the United States, Saudi Arabia, and France are pressuring Lebanon to postpone the elections for at least one year.

Egypt on Tuesday urged the international community to better support Lebanon's armed forces to ensure that all weapons in the country come under the exclusive authority of the state.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting in Cairo ahead of next month's Paris conference in support of the Lebanese Army, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty praised "the success of the Lebanese Army in completing the first phase of the plan."

The U.S.-led Mechanism committee will meet Wednesday in Ras al-Naqoura for the first time since December 19, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

It quoted informed sources as saying that the meeting will be limited to military personnel in the vein of the previous meeting.

The army accused the Israeli military on Tuesday of firing near a position it was setting up in the country's south, saying it had instructed troops to return fire.

In a statement, the Lebanese army said it was "establishing a new observation post on the southern border" when "the area surrounding the post was subjected to gunfire from the Israeli side".

Foreign minister Youssef Rajji said Tuesday that Lebanon fears its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates.

Rajji said Lebanese authorities had appealed to Hezbollah, which has fought several wars with Israel, most recently in 2024, not to respond in any way that could trigger “bad situations” for Lebanese civilians.