The deputy head of the Higher Shiite Islamic Council, Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan voiced calls to launch vigorous campaigns to support Lebanon's right to extract its oil, preserve its borders and sovereignty following Israel's threats against the country, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi held a mass on St. Maroun day at St. Maroun Church in Gemmayyze in the presence of President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry is taking steps to refute Israel's claim about Block 9 oil field reaching to the international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Several Lebanese and Syrian citizens were injured Thursday in a brawl in the Koura District town of Batroumine, the National News Agency said.

“Clashes and fistfights erupted between them in the same building following acts of provocation,” NNA said.

David Satterfield, the U.S. acting assistant secretary of state, on Thursday toured the Blue Line – the U.N.-demarcated border line between Lebanon and Israel – amid high tensions in the area.

Accompanied by General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Satterfield arrived earlier at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura where he held talks with the force commander Maj. Gen. Michael Beary.

Diplomatic contacts are underway between Beirut and "friendly countries" to ease tensions with Israel over a cement wall it is building along the border which Lebanon says would encroach on its territory, the government said Thursday.

Acting information minister and Social Affairs Minister Pierre Bou Assi told reporters after a government meeting that top Lebanese officials are in contact with the United Nations and some countries that he did not name to try and decrease tensions that have escalated over the construction of the wall.

Six teachers staging a sit-in near the presidential palace in Baabda were arrested Thursday after they attempted to block the road, the National News Agency said.

The protest that was held during a cabinet session at the palace witnessed scuffles between teachers and security forces.

Lebanon's government convened in a normal session on Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda to tackle 93 items on its agenda, the National News Agency reported.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Michael Beary on Thursday inspected the Blue Line area, south of al-Naqoura, where Israel has started to build a controversial separation border wall that Lebanon says would encroach on its territory.

Israel has started constructing the wall along its border with Lebanon on Wednesday. Lebanon's Higher Defense Council met afterward and instructed the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront any Israeli territorial or maritime border violations.

President Michel Aoun has signed on Thursday the officers’ promotion decree of the army, security forces, general security, state security and customs.

The signing comes one day after State officials, Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Saad Hariri, agreed to end a row over an officers seniority decree by signing a new decree merging the disputed decree with the stalled promotions decree.