The Embassies of the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan affirmed Thursday their strong support for the Lebanese government as the sole entity authorized to hold weapons and decide on matters of war and peace.

A woman was wounded and eventually died of her wounds when a people smuggler tried to run over Lebanese troops in the outskirts of the eastern town of Arsal, the Lebanese Army said.

“A vehicle equipped with tinted windows and lacking license plates bypassed troops at a military checkpoint, traveling from Syrian territory into Lebanese territory via illegal crossings,” the army said in a statement.

President Joseph Aoun stressed Thursday that Lebanon is an independent and sovereign state, stating that "we will not accept anyone sharing our sovereignty, so that we do not pay the price of past mistakes again."

He called on those who seek empowerment from the outside against their compatriots to instead draw strength from their own people against the outside.

Judge Ghada Abou Alwan interrogated the detainees Haitham Amhaz and Ali al-Kurdi on Thursday in the Hezbollah explosives case and issued two arrest warrants against them, MTV reported.

Alwan also scheduled a hearing in two weeks to notify the remaining defendants in the case before issuing arrest warrants against them as well, the TV network added.

President Joseph Aoun has called the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi to convey Lebanon's commitment to Yemen's state sovereignty, after the internationally-recognized government accused Hezbollah of having military advisers in the war-torn country.

During the call, Aoun expressed rejection of “any interference by individuals or groups in its internal affairs, or engaging in activities that compromise its security, stability, and the safety of its citizens."

Israeli strikes targeted overnight Tallousa, Aita al-Jabal and Hadatha-Harees, the National News Agency said.

The strikes come hours after a drone targeted a motorcyclist in Qabrikha, killing the man and wounding another, the first such death since September.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vowed a "strong defense" against Hezbollah as he visited Israeli forces in the occupied southern town of Khiam on Wednesday.

During the visit, Zamir warned Hezbollah that Israeli forces remain on high alert and ready to strike. "We are committed to establishing a strong defense along our borders and safeguarding the security of residents in the north," he said.

Kataeb Party leader MP Sami Gemayel has called for "executive measures" to prevent Hezbollah from dragging Lebanon into a war.

"The state cannot leave the decision to avoid war to Hezbollah and build on reassurances from the group," Gemayel told journalists on Wednesday.

Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar on Wednesday interrogated and charged the Lebanese Army’s former chief of staff Walid Salman and retired army brigadier generals George Moussa, Munir Abou Zeid and Manuel Kirjian, the National News Agency said.

The Lebanese Forces is still studying whether or not to take part in Thursday’s cabinet session, LF sources said.

The sources told Al-Jadeed television that Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi prefers to complete negotiations with the Qatari side and finalize the electricity plan before making a decision to attend government sessions.