Hezbollah's Media Relations Department has mourned the late renowned Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani, affirming that he embodied "a model of purposeful art in the service of the nation and humanity."

The finance and budget committee approved Monday the banking reform law, MP Ibrahim Kanaan, head of the committee, said after a 6-hour meeting.

Kanaan assured Lebanese depositors that their money will not be touched. "Everyone knows how the money was squandered and how it was distributed between the government, the Central Bank, and the banks," he said, adding that depositors will be protected.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has dismissed the reports that spread a negative atmosphere about his Paris meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron as well as his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s mission.

Hundreds of people paid tribute Monday to iconic composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani, who died over the weekend. His mother, Fayrouz, one of the Arab world's most esteemed singers, made a rare public appearance.

Rahbani, also known as a political provocateur, died Saturday at age 69, likely from liver failure.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack on Sunday warned that “the credibility of Lebanon’s government rests on its ability to match principle with practice.”

Hezbollah political bureau member Mahmoud Qmati called Friday for unity in Lebanon amid ongoing domestic and international pressure for Hezbollah to disarm after a bruising war with Israel.

"We are ready for dialogue about a defense strategy," Qmati said, adding that only national unity could help Lebanon and warning that divisions among the Lebanese people would only serve Israel.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has reminded that during his latest visit to Beirut, he stated that Hezbollah is “an issue that must be resolved by the Lebanese themselves,” reaffirming a “long-standing position of the United States -- that Hezbollah represents a challenge which only the Lebanese government can address.”

An Israeli drone strike on Friday targeted a Renault Rapid vehicle in the southern town of Baraashit, killing one person and wounding another, the Health Ministry said.

The Israeli army identified the slain man as Ali Mohammad Hassan Qassan, claiming that he was "the head of Hezbollah's manpower for the Bint Jbeil sector."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held talks Thursday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron after which he thanked France for "its continued support for Lebanon and its security, sovereignty and prosperity."

"I return to Beirut reassured by French President Emmanuel Macron's commitment to assisting Lebanon, renewing UNIFIL's mandate, and strengthening our bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of security, economy, education and culture," Salam added, in a post on the X platform.

One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, arrived in Beirut on Friday, having been released from prison after more than 40 years behind bars for the alleged killings of two diplomats.