France's President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have given "their full support" to the formation of a "strong government" in Lebanon, the French presidency said.

The new government must "bring together Lebanon's diverse people, ensure the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is respected and carry out the reforms necessary for the prosperity, stability and sovereignty of the country", the presidency said Thursday.

The UN Security Council has called for Lebanese leaders to rapidly form a new government, describing it as a "critical" step for stability in the war-battered country and region.

In a statement adopted unanimously, the Council welcomed the January 9 election of President Joseph Aoun, who filled a role that was vacant for over two years, and the nomination of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, urging the new Lebanese leaders to continue to "work constructively to promote the country's stability" and "swiftly" form a government.

France's President Emmanuel Macron was in Lebanon on Friday, where he was due to meet his newly-elected counterpart and offer support to leaders seeking to open a new chapter in their country's turbulent history.

After more than two years of a political vacuum at the top, Joseph Aoun was elected president on January 9 and chose Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate.

MP Ali Fayyad of Hezbollah’s bloc claimed Thursday that some forces did not honor understandings that allegedly preceded the election of Joseph Aoun as president.

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam is sseking “direct communication channels” with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement and has been quoted as saying that he wants “a direct dialogue over all matters,” the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday.

The lead judicial investigator in the Beirut port blast case, Judge Tarek al-Bitar on Thursday charged 10 new suspects in the case, who include port employees and current and former security officials, Al-Jadeed TV said.

The TV network identified the suspects as port employees Marwan Kaaki and Mohammad Qassabiyeh, the security official in charge of Hangar 12 Rabih Srour, Customs chief Brig. Gen. Raymond Khoury, Customs officer Brig. Gen. Adel Francis, General Security officer Brig. Gen. Najm al-Ahmadiyeh, former General Security officers Munah Sawaya and Mohammad Hassan Mouqalled, Lebanese Army brig. gen. Marwan Eid and former army intelligence chief brig. gen. Edmond Fadel.

President Joseph Aoun on Thursday received invitations to visit Qatar and Jordan, as he met separately in Baabda with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi and Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani.

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam kicked off Thursday the second day of non-binding consultations with lawmakers over the formation of the new government.

He is expected to deliver a speech after the consultations.

U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, the Chairman of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation “Mechanism”, joined by French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin, have accompanied Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) officers today to visit LAF checkpoints in south-west Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy said.

LAF 5th Brigade assumed full control of this area last week immediately after Israeli forces withdrew. Soldiers in 5th Brigade are now “in the process of making roads and villages safe for residents to return home,” the Embassy said in a statement.

Spain's top diplomat has announced a €10 million aid package for Lebanon's army, in a boost for the armed forces who have a crucial role in implementing a fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

"This announcement of 10 million euros for the United Nations Development Program" will contribute to "supplement the salaries of the Lebanese Armed Forces" as well as finance "solar panels and logistical aspects" of the army, Jose Manuel Albares said Wednesday during a visit to Beirut.