Jean Arnault, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), has congratulated the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and its Commander, servicemen and servicewomen on the occasion of the eighty-first Army Day, stressing that the army has "earned the pride of the nation and the trust of the international community."

President Joseph Aoun has warned that Israeli detonations near a UNESCO-listed castle  threatened a recent deal with Israel, which in turn said it had razed Hezbollah tunnels there.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that "Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions" overnight, specifically "in the area of the Beaufort fortress", a Crusader-era castle located near the southern border occupied by Israel.

Former central bank governor Riad Salameh was placed under police guard in hospital on Friday, a day after missing a hearing in an alleged embezzlement case, a judicial official told AFP.

The Lebanese delegation to the upcoming Rome talks with Israel will include members of the military delegation that had participated in one of the Washington meetings prior to the signing of the framework agreement, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

Speaker Nabih Berri’s meeting with President Joseph Aoun was to “clarify that Israel has no intention of actually withdrawing from Lebanon, and that Israel's non-compliance will prevent the agreement from being implemented,” visitors of Berri quoted him as saying, according to al-Akhbar newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Friday Israeli detonations near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle, and in the towns of Arnoun, Kfartibnit, Yohmor al-Shqif, and Hadatha in south Lebanon.

Israel said it destroyed tunnels used by Hezbollah in the Beaufort area using approximately 700 tons of explosives. The tremors from these explosions were felt in the south, and even in the capital Beirut, Berri said, adding that these condemned actions are unacceptable and must not be met "with silence" or treated as a fait accompli.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Friday met with Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal in Yarze and discussed with him the latest developments in Lebanon and the situations in the region.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced in a statement Friday his support for the draft amnesty bill agreed upon by a majority of Sunni MPs who met Thursday in parliament.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday held a central meeting dedicated to discussing the launch of recovery projects in the so-called pilot zones in south Lebanon, as part of the first phase of a return and recovery plan.

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat once again criticized the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which he argued does not mandate a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Speaking to a Turkish newspaper, Jumblat called the framework deal "a huge trap" as it talks about "redeployment" instead of a full withdrawal.