Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has commented to reporters in response to the controversy sparked on social media after U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to have avoided shaking his hand during a meeting with foreign leaders in New York.

“Many are trying to fish in troubled waters. They muddy the water first and then try to fish in it, but so far, they haven't caught a single fish," Salam said, apparently dismissing the controversy.

In an interview with L'Orient-Le Jour, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said he would support the framework agreement if it guarantees the total liberation of Lebanese territory.

"I criticized the framework deal for omitting the 1949 Armistice Agreement, which is clearly cited in the Taif Accord and U.N. Resolution 1701," he noted. "However, if it leads to the full liberation of Lebanese territory, I have no problem with it."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Minister of State for International Cooperation in the UAE Reem Al Hashimon.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York and focused on ending the Israeli attacks and occupation and preparing for the post-UNIFIL phase.

The European Commission announced €505 million in financial support for Lebanon for 2026 and 2027, the second half of the €1 billion support package announced by President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Beirut in May 2024.

The new funding will cover three main areas and will support Lebanon in advancing key reforms; strengthening its economic recovery, enhancing security and border management; and maintaining essential services for the most vulnerable. It will also support Lebanon in addressing the consequences of instability, conflict and displacement in the region.

The United States has delivered 16 million rounds of ammunition to the Lebanese Army, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said on Wednesday.

“Over the past 6 years, the United States has delivered more than $800 million dollars in military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces to build their long-term readiness and capacity,” the Embassy said in a post on X.

A delegation from the “Sunni MPs bloc” visited President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday to discuss with him the issue of the suspended amnesty law.

An Israeli massive overnight detonation in the southern border town of Khiam caused widespread destruction in nearby villages, damaging homes, schools, and infrastructure.

The blast resulted in a complete blackout across the Hasbaya, Shebaa, and Arqoub regions and shattered windows in nearby buildings, including a school in Marjayoun.

President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday met with an official Syrian delegation comprising the ministers of economy, tourism, agriculture, and transport, as well as the heads of the investment and aviation authorities and the head of the Lebanese-Syrian Business Council.

Syrian Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar spoke first, conveying the greetings of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Aoun, the Lebanese government and the “brotherly Lebanese people.”

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, has said that Hezbollah has conducted a deep review of the course adopted since October 8, 2023, objectively identifying any flaws or shortcomings in its performance.

In an interview with the al-Modon news portal, Raad noted that Hezbollah held its ground for four months at the strategic Ali al-Taher hill "despite a tight air and land blockade and exposure to tons of explosives, shells and airstrikes," while accusing Lebanese authorities of "betting on dragging the Resistance into the implementation mechanism of the framework agreement -- an attempt that failed."

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Israel of violating the sovereignty of all its neighboring states, in a speech at the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.

Macron also affirmed France's support for a sovereign Lebanese state that ensures the disarmament of Hezbollah.