Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil lashed out Sunday at those who attacked him in recent days, calling them “mad lunatics” and accusing them of a “character assassination” attempt.

Tens of Syrian families returned on Saturday to their hometowns in Syria through several border crossings, the latest group to return to Syria from its western neighbor, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Energy Minister Nada al-Bustani announced on Saturday that teams of the ministry have launched a campaign to remove the violations on the electricity grid in the area of Ain al-Rummaneh.

On the sidelines of his participation in the 14th Islamic Summit in Mecca, Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and they discussed developments in Lebanon and the region and the bilateral relations, the Premier’s media office said on Saturday.

Lebanon’s 2019 state budget awaits the parliament approval amid reports that new amendments could be introduced by some lawmakers in a bid to help slash the ballooning budget deficit further, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned on Friday that if there was a war against Iran the whole Middle East region would "erupt," amid escalating U.S.-Iranian tensions.

U.S. President Donald "Trump, his administration, and his intelligence know well that any war on Iran will not remain confined to Iran's borders," Nasrallah said.

State Minister for Presidency Affairs Salim Jreissati on Friday threw his support behind Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who has been criticized by several parties in recent days.

“After the Cabinet's approval of the draft state budget, some people returned to the only refrain they're good at: Jebran Bassil, only because he is filling the political life with activeness, communicating with people on the ground and inquiring about their concerns,” Jreissati tweeted.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday stressed that Lebanon is clinging to its rights regarding the demarcation of the land and maritime borders with Israel, noting that “the talks that will be held are in Lebanon's interest.”

“We won't give anything to Israel. We will recover a usurped land and we will gain sovereignty over a stolen land or a maritime zone we consider to be Lebanese,” Bassil said during a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Josep Borrell in Madrid.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Friday lamented that “ordinary citizens” seem to have become the victim of the clash of security agencies.

“The Itani-Ghabash-Hajj farce reminds me of the farce of Khalil Sehnaoui, who was accused of collaboration (with Israel) before being released after an agonizing ordeal because he also was a victim of the duel of agencies, the power struggle and the conflict among those who are in power,” Jumblat tweeted.

Beirut MP and ex-interior minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Friday lashed out at Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, accusing him of “sabotaging balance in the country.”

“This deterioration in the issue of the balance of powers must stop and the issue must be settled by those concerned with it. If we go back to the remarks that were voiced against (Prime Minister Saad) Hariri, (Speaker Nabih) Berri, (Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid) Jumblat, (Lebanese Forces leader Samir) Geagea and others, where would that take the country?” Mashnouq warned after meeting Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan at Dar al-Fatwa.