French envoy Patrick Durell is expected in Beirut on Friday to push leaders in Lebanon into forming a much-needed government, ahead of reported sanctions France and the EU are preparing against some officials in Lebanon, An Nahar newspaper reported on Friday.

In a first since the launch of indirect talks with Lebanon on their disputed maritime borders, Israel made a position expressing eagerness for “innovative solutions to complete and bring the file to a close”, media reports said Friday.

Twenty nations agreed Thursday to provide emergency aid to the ailing Lebanese military, a French ministry said on Thursday, noting the army is "essential for the country's stability."

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Joseph Borrell, will visit Lebanon on Saturday and Sunday, the EU Delegation to Lebanon confirmed on Thursday.

Borrell’s first official visit to Lebanon on behalf of the EU well come “at a very critical moment for the country, which is suffering from several crises,” the Delegation said in a statement.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and U.N.-Habitat Executive Director, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, has completed her first official visit to Lebanon from 10 to 16 June 2021, the U.N. said on Thursday.

During her visit, Sharif toured projects implemented by U.N.-Habitat in Lebanon, including those conducted and underway in response to the catastrophic Beirut Port explosion.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka on Thursday called on countries taking part in a French-hosted virtual conference in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to do everything in their power to meet the immediate emergency needs of Lebanon’s military institution, which has been deeply affected by the country’s unprecedented economic crisis.

A France-organized virtual international meeting for supporting the Lebanese Army was held Thursday with the participation of 20 countries.

The conference was also backed by the United Nations and Italy.

Shops, government offices, businesses and banks shuttered their doors in Lebanon on Thursday, as part of a general strike to protest deteriorating economic conditions and press for a government to deal with worsening crises.

The strike, which was accompanied by several roadblocks set up around Beirut and other cities, was ironically supported by the very political parties blamed for the deadlock over forming a government. This drew criticism from many activists and commentators, who questioned why those who were driving the economic and financial meltdown were themselves on strike.

Army chief General Joseph Aoun is expected to travel to the United States of America and later to the UK in the upcoming days in request for "humanitarian" support for the Lebanese army, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

Lebanon sees a nationwide general strike called by the General Labor Union on Thursday, protesting the dire economic and financial conditions and the delayed cabinet formation.