Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri on Friday described as “alarming” the reports about figures from Syria’s former regime using Lebanon as a launchpad for activities hostile to Syria’s new rulers.

A report in Lebanese news portal al-Anbaa said Friday that the Israeli military is heavily deploying elite units on the border with Lebanon, in preparation for a possible operation against Hezbollah.

The daily said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a security and government meeting Sunday to make "exceptional" decisions, as he reportedly returns from the U.S. with a green light to act against Hezbollah if needed.

Israel conducted Friday a series of strikes on south Lebanon and West Bekaa, including on al-Rihan mountains, the Tabna area near al-Baysariyyeh and Ansar's outskirts.

The Israeli army said it targeted a training center used by elite al-Radwan force and arms depots in south Lebanon.

The French president’s special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will return to Beirut on January 7, An-Nahar newspaper reported on Friday.

The Israeli Army is preparing options for action against Hezbollah, Israeli media reports said.

Israeli Maariv newspaper reported Friday that the options do not include an all-out war that would disrupt the ceasefire agreement, but a "limited offensive" or a series of high-intensity operations aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's long-range missile capabilities, which Israel claims are being rebuilt.

The Israeli army has raised its readiness level in anticipation of a potential attack on Hezbollah, according to Israeli media reports.

President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday hoped the Lebanese will enter the new year with a more stable and hopeful atmosphere.

The days leading up to the Trump-Netanyahu summit witnessed intensive contacts between several Arab and European countries on one side and Washington on the other, resulting in an agreement on broad outlines, which received the support of some members of the White House team, Lebanese-American sources said.

“These outlines were discussed with the Israeli side, which did not express enthusiasm for them, while the final decision was left to the meeting” between Trump and Netanyahu, the sources told ad-Diyar newspaper.

Political sources have ruled out the possibility of Israel launching a large-scale war on Lebanon in the foreseeable future, citing the absence of regional and international conditions, the lack of necessary capabilities and resources, the uncertainty of militarily eliminating Hezbollah, and the risk of jeopardizing the gains Israel achieved during the two-year war, al-Binaa newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“A negotiations climate will prevail over the war climate and international and regional contacts, negotiations and initiatives will restrain Israel and grant Lebanon an additional two-month grace period to address the issue of weapons north of the Litani River,” the sources said.

The handover of Palestinian weapons resumed Tuesday as the Palestine Liberation Organization surrendered a fifth batch of heavy weapons at the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in the southeastern outskirts of the port city of Sidon.

During a visit to Beirut in May, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun agreed that weapons in Lebanon's Palestinian camps would be handed over to the Lebanese authorities.