French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday met with MP and ex-presidential candidate Michel Mouawad, Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel, and other Tajaddod and Kataeb MPs, as he continued his "consultative" mission to push for a solution to the country's presidential deadlock.

He had met on Thursday caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil, and Marada leader and presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, who called the encounter "positive and constructive".

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani voiced optimism over the developments in Lebanon and the region, after attending a dinner banquet hosted by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari.

Thanking Bukhari for his “dear invitation,” Amani said in a tweet that he is optimistic over the current efforts and developments.

The United States and the United Nations will commence cash distributions to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on Friday under the “Livelihood Support Program.” 

This program, valued at $55.5 million, will disburse temporary financial support for more than 70,000 LAF personnel and will provide eligible LAF members with $100 per month for a period of six months.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea considered Thursday that despite France's efforts to break the presidential impasse, the problem is "inside Lebanon."

Geagea said, after meeting France's new special envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian, that the presidential crisis could only be resolved inside Lebanon's parliament.

MP Neemat Frem has stressed that the priority today is “rescuing” the country.

“I consider myself qualified to manage this process as a president, in light of the experience I possess in the fields of managing change,” Frem said in an interview with Tele Liban.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has urged Parliament to perform its sovereign duty by reaching consensus, maintaining a quorum, and electing a president.

"We look forward to partnership with your future president, someone on whom we will count to put the interests of the country first, someone not tainted by corruption or subject to outside influence," Shea said Wednesday night on the 247th Anniversary of the U.S. Independence.

The Advisory Commission (AdCom) on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) convened in Beirut on Wednesday and Thursday, amid immense concern over the alarming financial situation of the Agency.

In the two-day session, chaired by Dr. Bassel El Hassan, Chairman of the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC), AdCom members actively engaged the UNRWA senior management on key issues related to the survival of the Agency and its services to Palestine Refugees.  

French President Emmanuel Macron's envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian met Thursday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

Le Drian had arrived Wednesday in Beirut to end a political impasse that has left the country without a president for more than seven months.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized Wednesday a cabinet session that he said discussed items that a caretaker government should not be tackling.

Geagea dubbed the session as "unconstitutional" although it discussed some urgent matters, but also contained other items "far from being urgent."

French President Emmanuel Macron's envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Beirut on Wednesday to end a political impasse that has left the country without a president for more than seven months.

Le Drian is a political heavyweight who served as foreign minister throughout Macron's first mandate and previously as defense minister.