A large-scale confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah is likely to break out in the next several weeks if Israel and Hamas fail to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza, U.S. intelligence indicates.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah “have drafted battle plans and are in the process of trying to procure additional weapons,” two senior U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence told U.S. news portal Politico.

Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil will visit Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, a local newspaper and an FPM MP said.

Pro-Hezbollah daily al-Akhbar reported Friday that Bassil will present to Berri a suggestion for the presidential consultations and dialogue.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has met with Jamaa Islamiya chief Sheikh Mohammad Takkoush, Hezbollah said.

The meeting “tackled the latest political and security developments in Lebanon and Palestine,” a Hezbollah statement said.

Hezbollah said it fired "dozens" of rockets Thursday at a military base in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon, announcing four of its fighters had been killed.

Fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah have risen in recent weeks as threats have intensified between the sides, which have traded regular cross-border fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s military said Thursday that it killed a Hezbollah member who was involved in firing explosive drones into Israel.

The Israeli army posted a video of Thursday’s drone strike that killed the Hezbollah member while riding a motorcycle in the village of Sohmor in West Bekaa.

Paris is "extremely concerned" about fighting on Lebanon's border with Israel, France's foreign ministry said Thursday, calling on "all sides to exercise the greatest restraint.".l

Marking the 248th Anniversary of the United States’ Independence Day, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut held a reception attended by MP Fadi Alameh, representing Speaker Nabih Berri, and caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi, representing caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.   

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson noted in her remarks: “The United States has supported Lebanon and the Lebanese people since Lebanon’s birth as a nation.  Our relationship is built on a common desire for a prosperous, free, and democratic world.  The strength of our partnership is reflected in the numerous bonds connecting our two countries. We are bonded in strength.”  

Qatari envoy Abou Fahad Jassem Al-Thani will soon visit Beirut on a trip aimed at discussing the security situation in the south, not the presidential file, a media report said.

“The Qatari envoy will meet with Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and security chiefs to discuss with them the possibility of de-escalation on the southern front” with Israel, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted informed sources as saying.

The Russian embassy in Beirut has recommended that its citizens avoid traveling to Lebanon “until the situations calm down in the south of the country,” media reports said.

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov meanwhile told al-Jadeed television that the embassy “has not issued a new statement calling on citizens to leave Lebanon.”

Israeli warplanes raided Thursday the southern border town of Aitaroun, as fears mounted that months of cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah could turn into a full-fledged conflict.

Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily cross-border fire since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel sparked the war in the Gaza Strip.