The Iranian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday responded to remarks voiced by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale during his visit to Lebanon.

Describing Hale's statements as “blatant meddling in the affairs of others” and an attempt to “dictate decisions,” the embassy said Washington's strategy in Lebanon and the region is “based on creating wars and sowing discord between countries and the components of the same people.”

The Free Patriotic Movement believes that a positive outcome will result from the “Maronite summit” to be held in Bkirki on Wednesday, meanwhile the Lebanese Forces are “concerned” the meeting aims to provide a “cover for Foreign Minister and FPM chief Jebran Bassil,” al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

An Arab economic development summit that Lebanon is hosting this weekend has been marred by controversy days before delegates arrive.

Should regional outcast Syria be invited, as demanded by Lebanon's powerful Hizbullah group, an ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad? Should Libya get a seat at the table, despite the unresolved mystery surrounding the disappearance of a Lebanese cleric in Libya four decades ago?

As the formation of Lebanon’s government stumbles further, MP Ziad Hawat said on Tuesday that Hizbullah has not been given the permission yet to ease the formation process.

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit voiced "deep concern" Monday over the burning of the Libyan flag in Beirut, a few days before an Arab economic summit that will be held at the capital's Seaside Arena venue.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday voiced regret over Libya's decision to boycott Beirut's upcoming Arab economic summit, in a letter he addressed to his Libyan counterpart.

Bassil also “categorically rejected” the acts in Beirut that have “targeted the State of Libya and its participation,” noting that they “do not reflect” his stance or that of Lebanon.

Libya has officially decided to boycott Beirut's upcoming Arab economic summit, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj confirmed on Monday afternoon, a day after AMAL Movement supporters removed Libyan flags and addressed insults to Libya near the summit's venue.

"We have been forced to boycott this summit and refuse to participate in its work" because Lebanon was unable to guarantee "the appropriate climate" for it, the Libyan foreign ministry meanwhile said in a statement.

The house of Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Habshi in the Baalbek district town of Deir al-Ahmar came under gunfire at dawn Monday.

A statement issued by Habshi said “two bullets” were found inside the house, noting that it was empty at the time of the incident.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale announced after talks with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Monday that it is “unacceptable” for a “militia” to “dig tunnels” across the border or have an arsenal of thousands of missiles, referring to Hizbullah.

"It is unacceptable to have a militia outside the control of the state, and unanswerable to all the people of Lebanon, digging attack tunnels across the Blue Line into Israel and assembling an arsenal of over 100,000 missiles with which to threaten regional stability," he said.

After protesting the invitation of Libya to an economic summit and tearing down the country’s flag in Beirut, unknown assailants retaliated in Libya vandalizing the Lebanese embassy in the Libyan capital and smashing its contents, media reports said on Monday.

No further details about the assailants were reported.