The lingering electricity crisis is likely to worsen with no solution in the near future as the country is bracing for a summer drought exacerbated by massive influx of Syrian refugees.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Thursday, rationing in Beirut's southern suburbs is daily between 10 and 12 hours while in the South and the Bekaa is between 12 and 14 and reaches around 20 hours in some areas in the North.

Firefighters doused a blaze that ripped through a booth for parliament's guards at Beirut's Nejmeh Square, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

It was not clear what caused the small fire that broke out early in the morning.

Security forces and the army have taken strong measures around the country's largest prison over terrorist networks run by inmates and a plan to escape from the facility, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday.

The daily quoted security officials as saying that the ISF temporarily prevented the passage of vehicles on the road leading to Roumieh prison after suspects told investigators that terrorists were plotting an attack using a bomb-laden truck and inmates were planning a massive escape.

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas said on Thursday that the Lebanese state isn't concerned with the Syrian refugee encampments on its territories and rejects their establishment.

“These encampments are illegal and are erected without the approval of the state,” Derbas said in comments published in al-Liwaa newspaper.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly has called for reconciliation and the implementation of development projects in the northern city of Tripoli.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Thursday, Plumbly said the security plan implemented in the city should be coupled with tangible projects that lead to reconciliation and long-term development.

The vague group known as the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade vowed to task gunmen to attack churches in Lebanon and in the eastern Bekaa valley in particular.

The Brigade announced on its twitter account that a “specialized group of free jihadists were tasked with cleansing the Islamic state of Bekaa in particular and in Lebanon in general from the churches.”

A hoax bomb was discovered on Wednesday evening under al-Khnaq Bridge in the northern city of Tripoli.

State-run National News Agency said the device consisted of an unarmed hand grenade and a timer that was connected to it.

A high-level security meeting held Wednesday at the Grand Serail vowed to show no leniency in the face of terrorism, reassuring citizens that the situation is still under control.

“We stress that we won't be lenient with terrorism under any banner and this phenomenon is alien to the Lebanese society,” Defense Minister Samir Moqbel announced after the meeting.

A resident of the Ras Baalbek region in the eastern Bekaa was released on Wednesday after being abducted by gunmen, reported the National News Agency.

It said that Makhoul Mrad was released on ransom after being kidnapped for 20 days.

Army troops on Wednesday carried out raids in the Beirut area of Tariq al-Jedideh in search for suspects.

“The army is carrying out raids in Tariq al-Jedideh in search of suspects wanted on terrorism charges,” LBCI television reported.