The United States has endorsed Israel’s viewpoint that suggests that Lebanon should take “more effective” steps in the face of Hezbollah, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Western diplomats as telling Lebanese officials.

Two people were killed Wednesday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on their vehicles on the Bazouriyeh and al-Zahrani roads, in the southern districts of Tyre and Sidon.

The Israeli army said it targeted two Hezbollah members in the strikes.

Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan made a “notable” visit last week to Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil during his talks in Beirut, ad-Diyar newspaper said.

Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar might issue his indictment in the case in two months, ad-Diyar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“Bitar is waiting for answers to judicial writs that he had sent abroad through which he requested specific information related to the case,” the daily said.

President Joseph Aoun and Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal have committed to taking “a certain step in the North Litani region,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The step will take place “prior to Haykal’s travel to Washington next month,” the pro-Hezbollah daily added.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that he has discussed with the United Nations the enhancement of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

Salam was at the annual meeting of The World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps town of Davos, among 3,000 participants from 130 countries.

President Joseph Aoun stressed Tuesday in a press conference his commitment to disarm Hezbollah and implement the state's monopoly on arms.

"We want the south only under the army's control," Aoun said, as he welcomed foreign diplomats and ambassadors at the Baabda palace. "We want to rebuild all what has been destroyed as a result of attacks and adventures."

To Saudi Arabia, it is important that the Lebanese decisions come from the Lebanese state, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said.

Berri seemed satisfied about a meeting he had with Saudi envoy Prince Yazeed bin Farhan. He told Assas news portal, in remarks published Tuesday, that his meeting last week with bin Farhan was "excellent."

A man was wounded in an overnight Israeli strike on the southern town of Zebqine, the health ministry said Tuesday.

The strike comes as Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon, despite a ceasefire reached in November 2024, a week after the Lebanese army said it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River.

The decisions taken by Lebanese authorities regarding arms monopolization “were taken to be implemented and nothing will change the president’s stances,” ministerial sources close to President Joseph Aoun said, in response to Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem’s latest remarks.

“Qassem wanted to object and escalate in front of his environment, and this all remains rhetorical,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, noting that it is unlikely that Hezbollah would take any steps on the ground.