Top political leader of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, on Friday confirmed the death of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Al-Hayya, in a televised statement, reiterated the Palestinian militant group’s stance that it will not release Israeli hostages captured in the group’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel until there is a cease-fire in the yearlong war in Gaza.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has called for unity to confront Israel, for a ceasefire, and for the election of a consensual president.

In remarks to al-Modon web portal, Bassil said the priority is for a ceasefire and for deterring a possible re-occupation of south Lebanon.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused the Lebanese government of becoming "a rescue committee" instead of a state and of allowing Iran to fight its battles from Lebanon.

In remarks published Friday in Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Geagea said that Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon to where it is now, while Lebanese officials were "loafing around" instead of calling for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Hezbollah fired Friday a volley of rockets at Israel's Yoav barracks in the occupied Golan Heights and another volley of rockets at the Zofolon area north of Haifa.

The Israeli army for its part called for the evacuation of 20 southern Lebanese towns, and struck several southern towns including Jbaa, Aita al-Shaab, Zrariyeh, Marwanieh, Bazourieh, Shaaytiyeh, Ebl al-Siqi, Malkieh, and Ansar.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday condemned remarks attributed to Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf about Tehran's readiness to negotiate with France over the implementation of Resolution 1701.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is launching a Middle East Humanitarian Appeal to raise urgent funds for people whose lives are being devastated by conflict.

"Over the past year, conflict in the Middle East has devastated lives across the region, and millions have fled their homes in search of safety. Right now, millions of people across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region are in urgent need of food, shelter and medical care," DEC said in a statement.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that any negotiations to end fighting in Lebanon must be conducted “under fire,” during a situational assessment on the northern front.

Meeting with commanders of the reservist 146th Division, Gallant said the recent capture of Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon proves the Israeli army's "success and Hezbollah's predicament," according to a Defense Ministry statement.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has lamented that “the Americans are still endorsing the Israeli stance until the end, despite U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic tone.”

Higher Islamic Shiite Council deputy head Sheikh Ali al-Khatib on Wednesday agreed that a “consensual president” must be elected for the country so that all Lebanese can support him in addressing the “heavy burden” of the ongoing Israeli war.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Monday held talks in Ain el-Tineh with Speaker Nabih Berri.

“The meeting is aimed at highlighting a major Lebanese stance over the main topics on which there is a sort of unanimity, topped by the ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701,” Bassil said after the meeting.