Several suspects were arrested at dawn on Tuesday in the northern city of Hermel after engaging in gunbattles a few days ago, the National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese Army arrested three individuals in Hermel’s al-Marah neighborhood during security raids its carried out at dawn.

Lebanon must form a new government in order to “safeguard its internal arena” from the regional developments mainly “the latest US escalation in Syria,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

A senior political source expressed concern to the daily about the recent U.S. escalation in the neighboring country, “because Lebanon, as historically known, is directly impacted by the happenings around it.”

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri “will not step back from his mission” and is keen on forming a national consensus government to safeguard the investment programs that gained international approval at the Cedre conference, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Tuesday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat pointed out Monday that the country's domestic challenges could be “more important” than any developments related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

“The STL is existent and the government is financing this tribunal. The court has condemned individuals and history cannot stop because of these individuals. The domestic financial challenges are as important as the STL, if not more so,” Jumblat said when asked whether there is a link between the delay in the Cabinet formation process and any expected developments related to the STL.

Caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Monday promised a solution to the ongoing housing loans crisis.

During a meeting with Rony Lahoud, the director general of the Public Corporation for Housing, Khalil said the ministry has agreed to pay the controversial mortgage interest increase for new loans.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement sources have snapped back at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over his latest remarks on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Nasrallah's statement "don't play with fire" in his Sunday speech was “unfortunate because it reminded the Lebanese of the atmosphere of the May 7,” 2008 incidents, LBCI TV quoted the Mustaqbal sources as saying.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted Monday that some parties are “obstructing” the formation of the new government in an attempt to “curtail” the LF.

“It is lamentable that some parties are continuing to obstruct the formation of the government and the interests of the country and its citizens for the sole reason of attempting to curtail the Lebanese Forces,” Geagea tweeted.

Speaker Nabih has called the joint parliamentary committees for a meeting on Thursday, media reports said Monday.

The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. to continue the discussions of the draft laws.

President Michel Aoun on Monday urged Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to “take the initiative” regarding the stalled Cabinet formation process.

“Pluralism creates problems during the formation process. We are listening to the demands and seeking to create consensus,” Aoun said at a joint press conference with visiting Swiss leader Alain Berset at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon “will not issue a ruling in September” as circulated in media outlets, and the remarks made by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah about the court “reflect his uneasiness” with its outcome, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.