President Joseph Aoun hit back Sunday at those who have criticized the Lebanese state for pursuing diplomacy and negotiations.

Over the last ten days the U.S. and Iran have held indirect negotiations through Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey to try and reach a deal of a ceasefire in return for opening the strait of Hormuz. No significant progress has been achieved so far, U.S. news portal Axios reported on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday reminded Iran of the 10-day ultimatum he had issued for it to accept a deal that would stop the war.

"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them," Trump said in a post on the Truth Social platform.

Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are still working on a ceasefire plan between the U.S. and Iran, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported on Saturday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Saturday said Iran is violating Lebanon's sovereignty "through Hezbollah," in comments related to the war that has been raging since March 2.

MP Ghayath Yazbek of the Lebanese Forces said Thursday that an "Iranian-made" drone that crashed earlier in the day in the Batroun district had been headed to the nearby Hamat airbase, which is used by U.S. forces, suggesting that Hezbollah and Iran were behind it.

A month into Israel's war against Hezbollah, invading Israeli troops are gradually advancing in south Lebanon, raising fears for the area's fate following the last Israeli occupation that lasted nearly two decades.

Since war erupted last month, Israeli officials have said Israel intends to establish a "security zone" inside Lebanon.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated, after a cabinet session at the Grand serail, his commitment to efforts aiming at stopping the Israeli war.

Salam condemned joint Hezbollah-Iran attacks on Israel and said they do not serve Lebanon's national interests.

The Israeli army targeted Wednesday several towns and villages in south Lebanon including Houmin al-Tahta, al-Mansouri, Khiam, Harees, Kawnin, Beit Yahoun, Haddatha, al-Tiri, Hanine, al-Qawzah, Beit Leef, al-Ghandourieh, Kafra, al-Qlayleh, al-Henniyyeh, Maaroub, Dweir, Marjaoun, Maroun al-Ras, Marwanieh, and Ramadieh.

At least six people were killed in the strikes, four of them from the same family in Houmin.

UNESCO convened Wednesday an extraordinary meeting to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage in Lebanon, following the country’s request.

The meeting - an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict – led to granting provisional enhanced protection to 39 cultural properties as well as the provision of an international financial assistance, totaling over 100,000 USD for emergency operations on the ground.