A Lebanon-made electric car has been launched, the first time the small country has manufactured an automobile, despite struggling amid a dire economic crisis with frequent power cuts.

The red sports car -- named "Quds Rise", using the Arabic name of Jerusalem -- is the project of Lebanese-born Palestinian businessman Jihad Mohammed.

At least three people died when an Iranian tanker was attacked off Syria's coast, in the first assault of its kind since the war started a decade ago, a war monitor said.

Lebanon's farmers union has described as "arbitrary and unjust" the decision by Saudi Arabia to ban Lebanese produce from going through the kingdom over drug smuggling allegations, calling for it be repealed.

The ban, ordered by the kingdom's Interior Ministry and due to take effect Sunday, is a major blow to the Lebanese economy, already reeling from an unprecedented economic crisis.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Jebran Bassil lashed out at Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri without naming him, which prompted a quick reply from Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal Movement.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari said on Saturday that the Kingdom is facing local and international challenges from criminal networks.

“Drug smuggling reveals the extent of challenges Saudi Arabia faces from local and international criminal networks,” Bukhari said in the aftermath of a reported drug smuggling operation to SA from Lebanon.

Washington has reportedly reached a “serious” conviction that the Lebanese state is “completely suspended" and may be a step away from being a "failed state,” al-Arabiya television station reported on Saturday.

Following Saudi Arabia’s decision to stop fresh produce imports from Lebanon over drugs smuggling, Lebanon said drug smuggling harms Lebanon’s reputation and that the file must be handled by the judicial bodies.

Saudi Arabia announced Friday the suspension of fruit and vegetable imports from Lebanon, saying shipments were being used for drug smuggling and accusing Beirut of inaction.

Head of the Health Parliamentary Committee, Assem Araji stated on Friday that Lebanon is expecting two million Pfizer and Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccines between May and June this year.

Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun appeared before head of the Judicial Inspection Authority Judge Borkan Saad on Friday over a number of complaints, the latest was raiding the offices of Mecattaf money exchange company.