Economy Minister Raed Khoury announced on Friday that the military and security appointments file was not finalized as yet although some progress was recorded, as he affirmed that budget discussions made a progress.

“The security and military appointments have not been resolved yet, but progress has been made in this file which is mainly the concern of the defense minister,” Khoury told VDL (93.3).

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is expected to visit Beirut in the next days, amid reports that France will provide Lebanon with military assistance after Saudi Arabia halted its grant last year, the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily reported on Friday.

The French minister's visit affirms that France is going to support Lebanon's military agencies after Saudi Arabia halted a Lebanese army grant in 2016, added the daily.

The cabinet is expected to pass the long-stalled 2017 state budget plan next Monday at the Baabda Palace, amid an overall agreement between political parties to hold another session on Wednesday to finalize the security and military appointments in six top positions, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Wednesday's session will see the appointment of military and security officials.

Syrian warplanes on Thursday waged several raids on posts for the jihadist group Fateh al-Sham Front -- al-Qaida's former Syrian branch – near the Lebanese-Syrian border, media reports said.

The Free Patriotic Movement and the AMAL Movement are inclined to sign a memorandum of understanding that will turn the page on their years-long frosty relations, a media report said on Thursday.

UNRWA and UNICEF strongly condemned the armed violence in Ain el-Hilweh Palestine refugee camp in Sidon, southern Lebanon, which directly affects the safety and security of civilians, including children, a statement said on Wednesday.

“We deplore reports that at least eight civilians, including a thirteen year old boy and a United Nations (UNRWA) staff member, have been injured over the past days. We are deeply concerned that ongoing violence will result in further civilian casualties, including children,” the statement read.

Hizbullah Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Mohammad Raad stated that government’s approval of the wage scale is an essential matter, but decried imposing taxes in return which he said would diminish the purchasing power, the state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

“The pressing issue of the wage scale affects a large segment of our people and our brothers awaiting an increase in their salaries, it is rightfully theirs,” said Raad.

President Michel Aoun held talks on Wednesday with World Bank Director for the Middle East Ferid Belhaj where discussions focused on Lebanon's infrastructure improvement, and cooperation to provide the needed funding for reforms, the National News Agency reported.

Israeli forces removed on Wednesday a spy device they planted earlier in an area in the southern neighborhood of Kroum al-Sharqi, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

An Israeli infantry patrol approached the location and removed the device amid heavy military presence in the region, NNA said.

Cautious calm prevailed Wednesday night in the densely-packed Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, after one week of deadly clashes between the Fatah Movement and Islamist groups that left one civilian dead and six others injured.

The ceasefire agreement, reached at around 7 pm on Tuesday, still stands except for a personal dispute that erupted after midnight in al-Tahtani street leaving one person injured, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.