The statement issued by Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Wednesday "constitutes a flagrant departure from the collective national will, a further persistence in imposing a fait accompli, and a continuation of adventures that have brought Lebanon nothing but destruction, displacement and collapse,” a senior political source said.

In remarks to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, the source accused Qassem of insisting on “placing decisions of war and peace, as well as the conditions of national sovereignty, outside state institutions and the will of the Lebanese people, as if the country were the property of a single faction deciding its fate and the future of its citizens."

Lebanon has received positive signs from Washington, which has informed President Joseph Aoun that Israel “will not expand its operations or carry out any war or military activity outside the security zone” if Hezbollah does not attack it first, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Weapons and explosives, including of the C-4 type, have been seized by General Security in the northern city of Tripoli.

“As part of proactive security efforts and under the supervision of the competent judiciary, the General Directorate of General Security executed a series of raids in the city of Tripoli. These operations resulted in the seizure of quantities of explosives, including C-4, and detonators used in manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), alongside large quantities of military weapons, ammunition and grenades,” General Security said in a statement.

Judicial authorities are nearing the completion of the preliminary investigation into the Hezbollah explosives case, paving the way to file charges against seven suspects involved in the case, a media report said.

“Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, is expected to receive within a few hours the records of the preliminary investigations conducted by the Intelligence Directorate of the Lebanese Army and the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces, to review them and press charges against those involved in accordance with the crimes that match their actions,” Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported.

Speaker Berri warned Thursday of the danger of ending UNIFIL's mission before Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and Israeli forces completely withdraw from southern Lebanon.

During a meeting with visiting German Federal Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, Berri emphasized the need to strengthen Lebanon's partnership with Germany and the European Union.

President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that Lebanon remains committed to diplomacy but noted that the country's core demands in negotiations with Israel have not yet been met.

Aoun told a visiting German minister that he believes that only diplomacy can resolve conflicts as wars failed to achieve their intended goals. "Lasting stability cannot be attained through military force alone."

Israeli artillery shelled Thursday a region between Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sahrqiyeh, the National News Agency said.

Overnight, Israeli forces carried out detonations in Deir Mimas and shelled Kfartebnit, Baraashit, Aita al-Jabal, and Marjaoun. Strikes also hit Kfartebnit, Wadi al Hujair and Baraashit.

German Federal Minister Reem Alabali Radovan met Thursday with President Joseph Aoun after she arrived in Lebanon for an official visit "to reaffirm Germany's solidarity with the Lebanese people and its continued commitment to the country’s stability."

The German Embassy in Beirut said the visit focuses on strengthening Lebanon’s state institutions and addressing the needs of internally displaced people, including the restoration of basic services in war-affected areas.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said Wednesday the Iran-backed Lebanese movement was not concerned with the results of Israel's election, vowing to continue its resistance against it no matter who wins.

With 85 percent of ballots counted, the right-wing bloc of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a slight lead over the main opposition bloc, but was still short of a majority after Tuesday's election.

The four ministers representing the Lebanese Forces will not attend the cabinet session scheduled for Thursday, MTV reported.

“This decision comes after sensing intentional procrastination in referring the Dahr al-Baidar explosives case to the Judicial Council, as well as the lack of responsiveness from public administrations in the Lebanese state to the repeated requests of the Minister of Energy regarding the settlement of their dues owed to Électricité du Liban (EDL),” the TV network said.