Lebanon's Ministry of Culture handed over to Iraq on Sunday 337 ancient artifacts that had been on display in a Lebanese museum for years.

The items, which included clay tablets, were returned by Minister of Culture Mohammed Murtada to Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon during a ceremony held at the National Museum of Beirut.

MP Hassan Ezzeddine of Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance has confirmed that his party will ally with the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal Movement in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Hizbullah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Sunday lashed out at what he called “the Arabism that is allied with the Israeli enemy.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday defended Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh without naming him and accused some judges of politicization.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday announced the appointment of Major General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz of Spain as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Sáenz succeeds Major General Stefano Del Col of Italy, who will shortly complete his assignment. "The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Del Col for his exemplary service and leadership," the U.N. said in a statement.

The members of the U.N. Security Council "took note positively of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon on 24 January," the U.N. said in a statement.

"As the Lebanese population is facing dire needs and has expressed legitimate aspirations for reforms, elections and justice, the members of the Security Council urged expeditious and effective decisions by the government to initiate measures, including the swift adoption of an appropriate budget for 2022 that would enable the quick conclusion of an agreement with the IMF," the U.N. added.

A meeting held at the request of Prime Minister Najib Miqati and attended by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan and ex-PMs Fouad Saniora and Tammam Salam has failed to devise a “roadmap for filling the vacuum” created by ex-PM Saad Hariri’s withdrawal from politics, a media report said on Friday.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh has said that his conscience is clear despite the flurry of accusations against him.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks Friday at the Baabda Palace with President Michel Aoun.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi have posted tweets commemorating slain Lebanese activist and researcher Lokman Slim, on the first anniversary of his assassination.