The Lebanese army carried out raids in Dar al-Wasaa neighborhood in the Bekaa region where one person was reportedly wounded, the National News Agency said on Monday.

One man was wounded in raids that the army carried out early Monday on the houses of fugitives from the Jafaar family in Dar al-Wasaa.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji marked Lebanon's Army Day Monday and reassured that efforts to free the soldiers abducted by the Islamic State group will continue, as he renewed oath to defend Lebanon and protect its borders and wealth, the National News Agency reported.

“On your behalf, I renew our oath to defend Lebanon and protect its borders and wealth. I hereby vow before the families of your hero fellows who were taken hostage by terrorist groups that we shall pursue our endeavors with persistence to uncover their destiny and liberate them to ensure their safe return back to their loved ones and to the institution they belong to,” said Qahwaji in his Order of the Day.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri refused to participate personally in the national dialogue sessions with Hizbullah, and assured that he would change his mind if Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah engaged personally in the dialogue as well, al-Akhbar daily reported on Monday.

“Speaker Nabih Berri has suggested that Hariri raises the representation levels of the Mustaqbal bloc at the dialogue table by attending the sessions in person,” reported the daily.

Chairman of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi began an official visit to Lebanon on Monday during which he is expected to hold talks with top officials.

During his two-day visit Boroujerdi is expected to hold meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, Palestinian factions and the Muslim Scholars Committee.

One of the supporters of detained extremist cleric Ahmed al-Asir turned himself in to the Lebanese army intelligence checkpoint in Taamir-Ain el-Hilweh in the south, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Hani Najem is wanted on several arrest warrants, added NNA.

Brazilian police announced on Saturday the arrest of a Lebanese man suspected of having links to Hizbullah, media reports said on Saturday.

Fadi Hassan Nabha, 42, who is wanted for drug trafficking charges was arrested a week ahead of the Rio Olympics.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has given the approval to extend the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji for an additional year in light of the difficult circumstances Lebanon is passing through, the Kuwaiti As-Seyasah daily reported on Saturday.

Extending the term of Qahwaji is the “best option and the most appropriate for Lebanon and the army in light of the difficult conditions that the country is passing through and in the absence of a president,” ministerial sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday lashed out anew at Saudi Arabia, accusing it of rejecting dialogue in the region and stressing that its regional “project” will be “defeated.”

“Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia is insisting on continuing the wars in all arenas and rejecting all the extended hands. Those who have offered dialogue in Yemen have been asked to surrender, in Bahrain they have been asked to eliminate themselves, while in Syria preconditions are being demanded. The war is also continuing against Iran... seeing as Saudi Arabia is only launching dialogue with the Israelis,” said Nasrallah in a televised speech commemorating late Hizbullah official Ismail Zahri.

Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh stressed on Friday that his allies will not ask him to draw back his nomination for the top state post and assured that his candidacy for the presidential race is still valid.

“My allies will not ask me to withdraw my nomination and my candidacy for the presidency still stands,” declared Franjieh after a meeting he held with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea stated on Friday that the presidential file is complicated and that contacts with al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri are ongoing to convince him to elect the Change and Reform head MP Michel Aoun as president.

“MP Walid Jumblat has realized the actual situation and he prefers that a president is elected instead of the prolonging vacuum. Since the majority of the Christians have agreed on the election of Aoun, Jumblat has expressed readiness to vote for Aoun while contacts are ongoing with Hariri in that regard,” said Geagea to a popular delegation from the town of Tannourine.