Lebanon has appealed to the United States to stand by its side in order to close the chapter on wars and chart a path toward peace and stability, even as the situation on the ground continues to see further tensions, amid Israeli shelling targeting towns in the south and the explosion of remnant munitions from the war.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the United States to continue standing by his country following the conclusion of a framework agreement with Israel, brokered by Washington, aimed at achieving lasting peace.
Aoun urged his American counterpart, Donald Trump, to continue standing permanently beside Lebanon's just and legitimate causes, and beside its institutions, army and people, in order to close the chapter of wars, tragedies and pain, and open a new page of hope, peace and stability.
In that context, the US Embassy in Beirut wrote on its X account: "We stand with great pride beside the Lebanese people as they forge their way toward a brighter future — a future that holds the peace, prosperity and long-awaited promises."
Separately, Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal met with the Head and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz — referred to in the source as Diodato Abanyara — along with his deputy and the Mission's Director of Political and Civil Affairs, Hervé Loquay, to discuss the latest developments and events in the south of the country.
The Lebanese Army said in a statement published on its website: "The Army Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, received at his office in Yarze the Head and Force Commander of UNIFIL, accompanied by his deputy and the Mission's Director of Political and Civil Affairs, Hervé Loquay."
According to the statement, the meeting addressed the latest developments and events in Lebanon, particularly in the south, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation between the army and UNIFIL in light of current challenges.
On the ground, an Israeli drone dropped a sonic bomb targeting a town in southern Lebanon on Friday.
The Israeli drone dropped a sonic bomb on the town of Yater in southern Lebanon without causing any casualties, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.
An Israeli drone was also recorded flying at low altitude over the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut.
A war-remnant device exploded on Saturday morning in the Wadi Toulin–Qalawi area in southern Lebanon.
War-remnant munitions also exploded in the town of Siddiqine in southern Lebanon without causing any casualties.
Israeli forces fired in the early hours of the morning toward the town of Hadatha and the outskirts of the towns of Kunin and Al-Tayri in southern Lebanon.
Israel continues to open fire intermittently, despite the ceasefire, particularly inside or near areas where it is active.
In southern Lebanon, the official National News Agency reported on Friday that a person was wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district and was transferred to a hospital in the area. It also reported that Israeli artillery targeted Jabal Basil opposite the towns of Ramia and Beit Leif in the Bint Jbeil district.
For her part, Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Hanin Al-Sayed, during a tour of the south on Friday that included the city of Nabatieh, said that work is under way on a plan for the return of displaced Lebanese to their towns or to the area closest to their homes, including securing alternative shelter centres — among them prefabricated houses — as well as cash rental assistance.