The French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton, on behalf of his government, Thursday handed over eight Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the Lebanese armed forces at a ceremony held at the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura.

The APCs were deployed with French troops in UNIFIL and had been returned to French Army control. France decided to release them directly to the armed forces.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Wednesday that the cooperation between the Lebanese army and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is the main factor in maintaining the stability of the South, renewing Lebanon’s commitment to the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

He hoped after holding talks with UNIFIL Commander Major General Alberto Asarta that the international organization would pressure Israel to cease its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty, allowing a permanent ceasefire and cessation of hostilities to be implemented in line with resolution 1701.

UNIFIL spokesman Neeraj Singh said that the international force has informed the Lebanese army that the Israeli army will stage military exercises along its internal front, As Safir newspaper reported on Saturday.

“The Israeli army will carry out military drills between June 19 and 26,” he announced.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Andrea Tenenti stated on Thursday that the international troops were deployed in Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese authorities.

He said in a statement: “The Lebanese were in national agreement over UNIFIL’s functioning and U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.”

A Dutch diplomat was kidnapped in Lebanon some ten days ago in a development that has raised European fears of the return of the abduction of foreigners in Lebanon that was prevalent during the civil war years.

A European diplomatic source told the Central News Agency on Wednesday that the Dutch diplomat, who resides in Damascus, was abducted by tribes from the Baalbek region as he was passing through the area.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati traveled to Mecca on Tuesday for Omra but he is scheduled to return the same day to attend the new cabinet’s photo taking session that will take place at Baabda palace on Wednesday.

Media reports said Miqati’s visit to Saudi Arabia is not an official trip and is only aimed at performing the Omra.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed on Thursday the urgent need to form a cabinet that can address challenges at the security level.

“Incidents such as the attack on UNIFIL highlight the urgent need for a government in Lebanon that can address challenges at the security level,” Williams said about the roadside bomb that targeted U.N. peacekeepers in the south last Friday.

U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon has voiced hope that Italy will not draw down its peacekeeping force in Lebanon in the wake of the recent attack on its contingent in the south.

"I hope that Italy will maintain the current levels of its Lebanon contingent, in spite of the tragic attack on the Italian UNIFIL convoy," Ban told ANSA news agency on Wednesday.

The Lebanese army thwarted an attempt to launch a rocket from southern Lebanon towards Israel several days ago and arrested a man involved in the operation, As Safir newspaper reported Wednesday.

The newspaper quoted military sources as saying that the man had transported the rockets and set their launch pad.

Attention will be drawn to southern Lebanon on June 5 as a rally is expected to staged in commemoration of the day of the Naksa, reported As Safir on Wednesday.

High ranking military sources told the newspaper that the Lebanese army is taking the necessary precautions, stressing that the recent clashes that broke out on the Nakba Day at Maroun al-Ras will not be repeated.