Lebanon will celebrate in June the crowning of its ancient city of Jbeil as the 2016 Arab Tourism Capital, a title chosen by the Arab Council of Tourism.

Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon announced the event late Wednesday from the Grand Serail, voicing hopes that the security plan implemented in Lebanon paves way for the country to benefit from the event.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr submitted on Monday an appeal in the verdict against former Minister Michel Samaha.

The appeal demands his retrial and that the verdict be annulled.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat criticized on Thursday the sentence issued by the military court against former Minister Michel Samaha.

“The court's verdict in Samaha's case legalizes assassinations and explosions,” he said in a statement.

Hizbullah stated on Friday that the number of fighters who were killed in Syria's al-Qalamoun front were only three, denying media reports claiming otherwise.

“Some Lebanese and Arab media reports continue to broadcast false reports on the number of Hizbullah fighters killed in the last few days in al-Qalamoun front claiming that the number has totaled 40,” the statement said.

Indonesia will stop sending new domestic workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, reports said Tuesday, after the recent execution of two Indonesian women in Saudi Arabia angered Jakarta.

Other countries affected by the ban are Saudi Arabia -- a major destination for Indonesian maids -- United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and Egypt.

The Lebanese army heavily deployed on Sunday in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood in the northern coastal city of Tripoli, as the General Security apprehended a prominent member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Troops raided several areas in the neighborhood in search of suspects.

Israel's military said it launched an airstrike on its border with Syria on Sunday evening after spotting militants carrying a bomb.

A military statement said the army launched the strike after troops saw "a group of armed terrorists" approach the border with an explosive that could target Israeli troops.

Former Minister Michel Samaha pleaded guilty to all charges against him on Monday, admitting in court that he had transported explosives from Syria for use in attacks in Lebanon.

MTV channel said that Samaha confessed to all charges against him including plots to assassinate Lebanese officials.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused Saudi Arabia on Saturday of providing weapons and funding to terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Lebanon.

"What does providing financial assistance and weapons to terrorists in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq mean?" Rouhani asked.

The Lebanese Canadian Society of BC (WLCU-Vancouver chapter) in collaboration with the World Lebanese Cultural Union-BC Council will host a presentation on April 17, in Vancouver by Dr. Josyann Abisaab to mark the 103rd anniversary of the 125 Lebanese who lost their lives aboard the Titanic.

The RMS Titanic passenger liner sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City, U.S.