Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that Lebanon went to the negotiations in Washington because it was "the least costly path for Lebanon."

The Israeli army said an Israeli drone and troops attacked Wednesday morning "two Hezbollah gunmen" on the Ali al-Taher ridge, near the security zone in south Lebanon, after they "posed a threat" to its forces.

Earlier, the Israeli army fired gunshots at two cars in the southern town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, causing no casualties, the state-run National News Agency said.

President Joseph Aoun announced Wednesday that "work is underway to solidify the ceasefire in the south, to be followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of the Lebanese Army, the return of residents, the release of captives, and the commencement of reconstruction."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington will negotiate and deal with Lebanon directly, and that the U.S.-brokered Lebanon-Israel negotiations are separate from the deal with Iran.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who acts as an intermediary for the group, received a phone call Tuesday from French President Emmanuel Macron, his office said.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Tuesday demanded a full, scheduled withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon to make way for a Lebanese Army deployment in the south following the U.S.-Iran deal to end the Middle East war.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter on Tuesday lamented that Hezbollah feels emboldened after the latest developments and ceasefire.

President Joseph Aoun received a phone call Tuesday afternoon from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they discussed the latest developments related to the situation in Lebanon and the period following the Switzerland meetings, the Presidency said.

President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday rejected Israeli occupation as well as any foreign interference in the country's affairs.

President Joseph Aoun received Tuesday a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region in light of the results of the U.S.-Iranian negotiations held in Switzerland.