The fall of Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria has disrupted the Kremlin's strategy not only for the Mediterranean but also for Africa, pushing it to focus on Libya as a potential foothold, experts say.

Californians are demanding to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness.

Israel struck Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, including a power station and coastal ports, in response to missile and drone launches, and warned it would hunt down the group's leaders.

A Syria monitor said fighters linked to the Islamist-led transitional administration publicly executed a local official on Friday, accusing him of having been an informant under ousted strongman Bashar al-Assad.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighters affiliated with the new authorities executed Mazen Kneneh with a shot to the head in the street in the Damascus suburb of Dummar, describing him as "one of the best-known loyalists of the former regime".

The weakening of Hezbollah in last year's war with Israel allowed Lebanon's long deadlocked parliament to reach consensus around a president who has the confidence of the international community.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her support on Friday for new Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, saying he would be a "trustworthy" leader for the country.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will on Saturday make his first official trip to neighboring Syria since the fall of president Bashar al-Assad, his office told AFP.

Mikati's office said Friday the trip came at the invitation of the country's new de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa during a phone call last week.

Qatar praised the election of Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun as president, calling for "stability" after the more than two year vacancy was filled.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Lebanon will overcome the "repercussions of Israeli aggression" under the leadership of its new president, Joseph Aoun.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said the election of army chief Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's new president was a chance for "reforms and change" in the war-ravaged country.

"After many years of crisis and stagnation, this is a moment of opportunity to bring about reforms and change," Baerbock said on social media platform X. "Germany stands by the side of the people of Lebanon on the way forward."