Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has noted that his government’s top priorities are reform and “the state’s regaining of the war and peace decisions.”

“The state should monopolize arms and it has a duty to extend its authority across its territory with its own forces, as stipulated by the Taif Agreement,” Salam said at an iftar banquet at the Grand Serail.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel "will not give up" the five hills deemed "strategic" it occupies in south Lebanon.

Lebanon named a new head of the armed forces Thursday to succeed Joseph Aoun, who was appointed president earlier this year.

"Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal was named commander in chief of the armed forces," Minister of Information Paul Morcos said after a cabinet meeting, also confirming a number of other security appointments.

The International Monetary Fund on Thursday welcomed the new Lebanese government's request for support in addressing severe economic challenges.

Lebanon in January elected a new president after a more than two-year vacuum, and then formed a government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In February the IMF said it was open to a new loan agreement with the country following discussions with its recently-appointed finance minister.

The Israeli military said it carried out a strike on a Hezbollah weapons facility in eastern Lebanon on Thursday.

"A short while ago, the IDF (military) conducted a strike on infrastructure at a site used by Hezbollah for manufacturing and storing strategic weapons in the Beqaa area in Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved the appointment of Brig. Gen. Rudolph Haykal as army chief, Brig. Gen. Hassan Shqeir as General Security head, Brig. Gen. Raed Abdallah as Internal Security Forces chief and Brig. Gen. Edgard Lawandos as State Security head.

Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel are “still indirect” and our stance does not support “normalization,” Information Minister Paul Morkos announced Thursday after a cabinet session.

The Lebanese army said it received on Thursday a soldier taken by Israel last weekend, after Israel handed over four other detainees earlier this week.

"The army through the International Committee of the Red Cross received (on Thursday) the soldier who was kidnapped by the Israeli enemy" on Sunday, the army said on X, adding that he had been transported to a hospital for treatment.

The UK Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa (DSAME) Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren ended Thursday a two-day visit to Lebanon where he met with senior Lebanese and U.N. officials.

Ahlgren congratulated President Joseph Aoun on his election as President and the formation of a new government, which shows hope and change for the future, as he reiterated the UK’s support for Lebanon’s long-term stability and security.

Against the backdrop of the U.S.-led negotiations that have opened with Lebanon, an Israeli political source has said that "the discussions are part of a broad and comprehensive plan."

“The Prime Minister's policy has already changed the Middle East, and we want to continue the momentum and reach normalization with Lebanon. Just as Lebanon has claims regarding the borders, so do we. We will discuss these matters," the source told Israel’s Channel 12.