An Israeli airstrike targeted suspected Hezbollah posts in Syria's coastal Tartus province on Saturday morning, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

PM-designate Najib Mikati, in his capacity as caretaker PM, signed Friday the decree of military and security promotions as he received it from the Finance Ministry.

A week ago, media reports said Speaker Nabih Berri was “still refusing to agree to the promotions of the officers who graduated (from the Military School) in 1994 under the excuse of ‘sectarian imbalance.’”

President Michel Aoun discussed Friday with Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati the Cabinet draft line-up that the latter had submitted to the President on Wednesday, the Presidency said.

The line-up, handwritten by Mikati, was leaked on the same day. Both parties denied they have leaked it, in separate statements.

Israel has responded to Lebanon’s latest proposal regarding sea border demarcation and its answer included a suggestion that Lebanon “buy Israel’s small share” in the Qana offshore field, informed sources said.

U.S. ambassador Dorothy Shea briefed Friday President Michel Aoun on the outcome of U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein’s talks with the Israelis and the progress that has been achieved, the Presidency said.

Also on Friday, a media report said that Israel's response suggests selling to Lebanon Israel’s small share in the Qana offshore field.

Hezbollah is trying to persuade President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil to facilitate the government formation, a Kuwaiti media report said.

The Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper said that according to its sources, Bassil will not stand still while the energy portfolio is being taken away from the FPM, while Hezbollah thinks that "a short-term Cabinet is not worth all the tension."

Qatar has donated $60 million to the Lebanese army, hard hit by the Mediterranean nation's unprecedented economic meltdown, Qatar News Agency reported.

The announcement came shortly after Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Beirut, where he is expected to meet senior Lebanese officials.

Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Thursday stressed that the formation of a new government is “something essential and fundamental,” urging the parties to offer compromises.

“The government’s formation is considered something essential and fundamental, because without a government nothing can change in this situation and things might deteriorate further,” Qassem said.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has considered himself a natural candidate for the presidency as he described himself as "the most representative of his sect."

Yet, Geagea said, in a TV interview, that he will not waste time on securing votes and that the biggest concern is to unify the opposition on one candidate to succeed President Michel Aoun.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on Thursday made new suggestions related to the financial recovery plan, which some MPs have considered to be a “new plan,” al-Jadeed TV reported.

In a meeting with the finance parliamentary committee, Mikati proposed the creation of “a recovery fund for returning a part of the bank deposits” to depositors, the TV network added.