The Arz-Ainata road was blocked by snow on Wednesday as the northern city of Tripoli witnessed material damage with the arrival of this season's first storm.

The Army Intelligence conducted a raid in the Bekaa town of Majdel Anjar and arrested a man suspected of providing his brother, affiliated to al-Qaida linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades, with weapons, the National News Agency reported Wednesday.

The military arrested Omar H.Kh on charges of providing his brother, R.Kh., and affiliate of Abdullah Azzam Brigares with explosives and weapons, NNA said.

The Israeli air force fired two missiles at dawn on Wednesday that hit near Damascus, which Syrian state television said were launched from Lebanese airspace.

The airstrikes caused no casualties, the television said.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said on Wednesday that the ministry has the preparations ready to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections on time shall the 1960 majoritarian law be adopted.

“The Ministry is ready today to hold the parliamentary polls under the 1960 electoral law, but it needs some time for preparations shall another law be agreed,” said Mashnouq.

Lebanese Forces sources stressed on Wednesday that the obstacles hampering the formation of a new cabinet stem from intentions of some parties to prevent President Michel Aoun from practicing his role to establish a strong State, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

“The current crisis to line up a cabinet goes beyond conflicts over ministerial portfolios. It stems from a strategic nature linked to preventing President Michel Aoun from an attempt to build a State,” LF sources told the daily.

President Michel Aoun is not pleased with the stalled efforts to form a new government one month after his election and is mulling the formation of a "realistic" cabinet shall the process witness further stalemates, media reports said Wednesday..

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that the Lebanese government must look into improving the employment opportunities for the youth to build human capabilities, and to maintain Lebanon's “special” position in the region and world.

“I believe that one of the most important responsibilities of the state now is to improve employment opportunities for young men and women in Lebanon, and to create a climate of confidence and hope for the younger generation, which is the future of our country,” said Hariri at the opening of the Outreach and Leadership Academy (OLA) in Beirut downtown.

A gang comprised of three Lebanese nationals tied to a rash of car thefts was arrested by law enforcement police in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Internal Security Forces said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police units carried out a raid in the southern suburb of Hay el-Sellom over the weekend where the suspects were meeting. The assailants opened fire at the police officers which compelled them to respond, added NNA.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that a prolonged delay in the government formation process imperils stipulating a new electoral law that helps hold the parliamentary elections on time, al-Joumhouria daily reported Monday.

Berri had voiced warnings in front of his visitors that he has not been informed of any positive developments as for the efforts exerted to facilitate the difficulties hampering the formation, according to the daily.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is expected to visit Beirut next week carrying a message of congratulations from Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan to newly elected President Michel Aoun, and to highlight the latest developments of concern for both countries following his latest visit to Iran, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.