Hizbullah on Friday announced that the latest battles in Brital's outskirts were aimed at “creating an emirate” on the border of the Bekaa, claiming advances in the mountains of Syria's Qalamun region in the face of “takfiri” groups.

“Lebanon has fended off the threats of the Syrian crisis through the wisdom of its rational men, the Lebanese army's resilience and steadfastness, and the performance of Hizbullah and its allies,” Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem announced during a memorial service.

A suspect wanted on several drug smuggling charges was injured on Friday during an army raid against his residence in the Tal Abyad area in the eastern region of Baalbek, reported the National News Agency.

Nouh Zoaiter sustained injuries to his legs during the raid, after which he was taken to al-Rayyan Hospital for treatment amid the heavy deployment of the army and Zoaiter family gunmen around the facility.

Security forces sealed with red wax a foodstuffs factory in Bar Elias in the Bekaa for not abiding by health standards.

“A patrol from the Bekaa's State Security department accompanied by a patrol from the Consumers Protection Department stormed a factory for the manufacture of spices, thyme and the canning of grains and foodstuffs,” said the National News Agency.

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji has accused the Islamic State group of seeking to ignite civil war in Lebanon and of relying on sleeper cells in the northern district of Akkar and the port city of Tripoli.

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro, Qahwaji said the terrorists were counting on the cells in northern Lebanon and on the backing of some Sunni figures to achieve their objectives.

The families of the abducted soldiers and policemen stressed on Monday that the cabinet vowed to ensure the safe return of their relatives, confirming that negotiations with jihadists are ongoing.

“The government promised to hand us our sons safe,” the families said after meeting with General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.

A man was injured on Friday when several border towns in the northern Akkar district came under gunfire from the Syrian side of the border, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said the car crashed after gunfire from the neighboring country reached the towns of Qashlaq, Hekr Jenine and the highway that links al-Abboudiyeh with Monjez.

Two Lebanese nationals were charged with the embezzlement of Social Security funds and forgery, the state-run National News Agency reported on Friday.

The NNA said that General Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Mohammed Karaki accused before the Financial General Prosecution M. Sh and Aa. Sh. of embezzlement of the institution's funds and counterfeit.

Speaker Nabih Berri described on Friday the controversial presidential elections as “complicated,” calling on the political arch-foes to agree on a consensual candidate.

“The presidential poll is complex as it involves two elements, the first is the local obstacles and the second is linked to the U.S.-Iranian and Iranian-Saudi dialogues,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.

There was cautious calm in the northern city of Tripoli on Friday morning hours after gunmen attacked army posts, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said masked gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire at the military posts in Talaat al-Omari and Haret al-Saydeh.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji is expected to tackle next week the aid granted to the Lebanese military with U.S. and Saudi officials, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the daily, Qahwaji will travel to the United States to persuade senior officials to grant the Lebanese army U.S. weapons.