Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has told the ambassadors of the member states of the five-nation group for Lebanon, as he met them Monday in Bkerki, that the call for dialogue to elect a president surprises him.

"The Constitution is the highest law, so why are we trespassing it?" Bkerki's spokesperson Walid Ghayad said.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday warned that if the caretaker government “appoints 234 customs agents not including a single Christian,” it would be “insisting on excluding Christians from the state.”

As UNIFIL marked the 46th anniversary of its establishment today, Tuesday, its leadership renewed calls for all actors to "put down their weapons, recommit to Security Council Resolution 1701, and work toward a political and diplomatic solution," a statement said.

“Resolution 1701 has been challenged by current events, but it remains as relevant and necessary as ever,” said Head of Mission and Force Commander Aroldo Lázaro. "We call on all parties to commit to implementing the resolution in full. Our more than 10,000 peacekeepers continue their critical monitoring, de-escalation, and liaison work, and we stand ready to support a peaceful resolution to the current situation," he added.

Israeli warplanes struck Tuesday Marwahin and a house in the southern border town of al-Odaisseh, as the war enters its sixth month.

Israeli artillery later shelled the outskirts of Tayr Harfa and al-Naqoura.

Israeli warplanes struck Monday a house in the border town of Mays al-Jabal and a building in al-Odaisseh.

Border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have de-escalated in the past few days as Gaza truce talks gained steam.

Lebanon’s General Security directorate on Monday briefly detained outspoken political activist Makram Rabah following interrogation over an interview in which he attacked Hezbollah and talked about alleged Hezbollah arms storage and manufacturing sites.

Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has invited former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil to visit Qatar to discuss the presidential file with top officials there, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said.

The daily reported Monday that Al-Thani will visit other political leaders soon to invite them to talks in Doha.

The ambassadors of the member states of the five-nation group for Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, met Monday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

"The meeting was very good," Berri said, adding that there will be other meetings. "There is an agreement that an understanding must be reached and a president must be elected."

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has pleaded to Lebanon’s political parties and religious leaders, mentioning them by name one by one.

“I urge Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan and the leaders of the Sunni community, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with his leadership, Speaker Nabih Berri with his wisdom, former Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and his son Taymour with their understanding of Mt. Lebanon, and all Lebanese leaders not to let go of balanced and equal partnership,” Bassil said in a speech at the FPM’s annual convention.

The Lebanese Forces said Monday in a statement that it cannot converge with the Free Patriotic Movement, unless the latter stops supporting Hezbollah.

"There is a communication with the FPM and this communication has resulted in an intersection presidential candidate," the statement said, adding that communication must be maintained but reaching convergence "requires national understandings starting from a sovereign vision, which is not currently available."