General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim revealed Friday that he intends to visit a country that can help Lebanon secure the release of the nine Lebanese servicemen who are being held hostage by the extremist Islamic State group.

A Lebanese member of the terrorist Islamic State group was referred Friday to the judiciary, an army statement said.

The Army intelligence arrested an Islamic State group firebrand suspected of leading smuggling operations, LBCI reported on Friday.

The Army Intelligence arrested on Friday two Syrian men accused of preparing explosive bombs in the northern district of al-Koura, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The two men, whose names were not identified, planned to carry out the bombing on the outskirts of Deddeh in Koura.

Civil Defense volunteers ended a 12-day protest on the Lebanese-Palestinian border on Friday after receiving vows from officials that their longtime demand for full-time employment will be met, the National News Agency reported.

The campaigners ended their protest and dismantled tents that they had erected on the border, NNA added.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea emphasized that he is keen on maintaining good relations with the army leadership and asked the Free Patriotic Movement not to “embarrass” him with threats to resort to the street if the term of the Army Commander was extended, al-Akhbar daily reported on Friday.

Speaker Nabih Berri said that boycotting the cabinet's sessions reaps no benefits other than obstructing the people's daily interests, as he stressed that the cabinet is the last chance to save the State's face, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.

“Tell me. What is the benefit that can be derived from obstructing the cabinet's work other than hindering the citizens' daily interests which are not being addressed properly because of the differences?” asked Berri.

Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil warned Thursday that the FPM would resort to “the judiciary and street protests” if the cabinet passes decrees in the absence of the movement's ministers.

As the expiry of his tenure looms in the horizon, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji has revealed that he does not have “ambitions” regarding any post.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks Thursday in Ankara with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, his office said.

“During the two meetings, ex-PM Hariri reiterated his solidarity with Turkey, its people and its democracy in the face of the failed coup attempt as well as in the face of the terrorist attacks it is witnessing,” the office said.