The Israeli army heavily fired flares over Lebanon’s border on Tuesday night after reporting a “security incident.”

Loud sounds from the flares were echoing across south Lebanon.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday stressed that the new government’s program should have the top priority in the formation process.

“The bloc considers that the the top priority is for the formation of a reformist, productive and active government that would commit to the reform program whose points have become known to all domestic and foreign parties,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

Lebanon Tuesday rejected an Israeli call to change the missions of a U.N. peacekeeping force patrolling the Lebanese-Israeli border before a U.N. Security Council vote to renew its mandate.

Lebanon and Israel are still technically at war, and the United Nations force, UNIFIL, is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between the two sides.

Lebanon on Tuesday announced twelve COVID-19 deaths, the highest daily toll so far for the small country since the first infection was detected on February 21.

In its daily statement, the Health Ministry said 532 virus cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours -- 525 among residents and only seven among people coming from abroad.

Caretaker Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi on Tuesday warned that any private businesses and institutions that defy the coronavirus lockdown would face fines and judicial prosecution.

“The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities warns that it will not be lenient in enforcing the law against the violators,” Fahmi said in a statement, noting that “the issue is related to public safety and the health of all citizens amid the alarming increase in the number of pandemic cases and deaths.”

Lebanon's central bank governor warned in an interview published Tuesday that the bank cannot continue using its foreign currency reserves to finance trade, signaling he may soon be unable to sustain subsidies on basic goods.

In an interview with the French edition of the Saudi-owned Arab News, Riad Salameh said the central bank "is not the state" and cannot be blamed for everything.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri declared Tuesday that he is not a candidate for the PM post and called on all political forces to withdraw his name from any deliberations in this regard.

Hariri issued his statement following separate talks with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani and Lebanese General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.

A representative of Lebanon's hospitality sector said on Tuesday that service and tourism businesses would defy a newly reinstated coronavirus lockdown that has compounded the blast-hit country's economic woes.

Judicial investigator into the Beirut port blast Judge Fadi Sawwan on Tuesday interrogated three port employees and issued arrest warrants for them, which raises the number of those held according to judicial warrants to 12 detainees.

The National News Agency identified the three employees as Mustafa Farshoukh, Michel Nahoul and Wajdi Qarqafi.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani reiterated solidarity with the Lebanese people and affirmed continued support after the devastating Beirut blast, but noted that Qatar did not vow to deposit any funds at Lebanese banks.