The Free Patriotic Movement responded Wednesday to remarks voiced overnight by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam regarding the negotiations that resulted in the exclusion of the FPM from the new government.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has announced that the FPM will practice “positive opposition” in the face of the new government, noting that it will follow up on a number of files it had “struggled” for.

Israel asked the Trump administration on Monday for another extension to the deadline for the Israeli army withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but won’t get it, a U.S. official told The Times of Israel.

The ceasefire monitoring committee has been informed that the Israeli army is asking to stay in some points in south Lebanon until February 28, LBCI TV reported on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip unless the Israeli hostages in Gaza are released.

"If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israeli army) will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated," Netanyahu said in a video message.

With the already extended deadline for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon fast approaching, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly asked U.S. President Donald Trump to support a further extension of the Israeli army’s deployment there.

Speaker Nabih Berri has told his visitors that he fears that Israel will not withdraw its forces from south Lebanon by the February 18 deadline, despite the reassurances of the countries that sponsor the ceasefire monitoring committee.

President Joseph Aoun told the new ministers during the first cabinet session on Tuesday that their belonging should be “only to the state.”

The new government held its first session Tuesday at the Baabda Palace during which a ministerial panel was formed to draft the government’s policy statement.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has congratulated Lebanon on the formation of a new Government, saying that peacekeepers will actively support the Salam Government in its efforts to fully implement resolution 1701, including through strong partnership with the Lebanese Army and other security institutions.

"UNIFIL and our peacekeepers from 48 countries reaffirm our support for the Lebanese Armed Forces in their re-deployment in southern Lebanon, as well as for Government institutions in their efforts to extend State authority and help people return to their villages to start rebuilding. We remain committed to supporting stability that will bring a return to normalcy for people living on both sides of the Blue Line," UNIFIL said in a statement Monday.