Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday told a visiting U.S. official that Lebanon cannot withstand Washington’s growing economic pressure.

“Lebanon has ratified financial laws that make it compliant with the highest international standards in the field of combating the smuggling and laundering of funds,” Berri told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker.

Blast sounds from dozens of heavy-caliber artillery shells were heard Tuesday in the villages of the southern Orqoub region, amid an Israeli military drill in the occupied Shebaa Farms and Golan Heights, Lebanon's National News Agency said.

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday told a visiting senior U.S. official that Lebanon is committed to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 despite the latest hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah.

“Lebanon is committed to Resolution 1701 while Israel is violating it, and any escalation by it will undermine the stable situation in the border region,” Aoun warned, in a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said his threat to “break the red lines” in the confrontation with Israel does not stand for renouncing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between his group and Israel.

“The Lebanese have foiled the Israeli attempt to change the rules of engagement that had been in place since 2006 and the Israeli army has turned into a Hollywoodic army because it has become crippled on the ground,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech marking the last day of the Shiite Ashoura commemorations.

Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Monday stressed that Hizbullah and Iran will remain defiant in the face of the growing U.S. pressure.

“We are fighting a grand battle and America and Israel are trying to besiege our camp,” Nasrallah said in brief political remarks during a religious sermon marking the ninth eve of the Shiite Ashoura commemorations.

A fifth supporter of the Progressive Socialist Party was detained Monday in the ongoing probe into the deadly Qabrshmoun incident.

The National News Agency said Military Examining Magistrate Marcel Bassil questioned two PSP supporters and two Lebanese Democratic Party supporters in the second interrogation session in the case, in the presence of their lawyers.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Monday evening at the Center House with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard.

The meeting was held in the presence of Hariri’s adviser ex-minister Ghattas Khoury. A statement issued by Hariri’s office said discussions focused on “the developments in Lebanon and the region, and the bilateral relations between the two countries.”

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Monday held talks at the Grand Serail with Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

The National News Agency said the discussions tackled “the general economic and financial situations.”

The Israeli army on Monday resumed drilling and barricading works near the military road that is adjacent to the electronic border fence opposite the Lebanese al-Wazzani park, Lebanon’s National News Agency said.

An Israeli military patrol meanwhile combed the military road next to the border wall between the Israeli settlement of Metulla and the hills of the Lebanese town of Adaisseh.

President Michel Aoun on Monday praised the latest reconciliations between political parties, and urged the Lebanese not to have any fear for the future, the National News Agency reported.