Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem announced Friday that his party will not bow to the growing U.S. pressure.

“Hizbullah will not bow to pressures or sanctions. These sanctions will not affect the party's stances but will rather make them firmer,” Qassem said.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the formation of Lebanon’s new government and affirmed commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability, a statement from the Elysee Palace said on Friday.

Lebanon’s newly formed government is going to be placed under “daily international observation,” amid “U.S. concerns” of the allocation of ministerial portfolios for Hizbullah which the U.S. regards as “terrorist organization,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

The United States was “concerned” that Hizbullah, which Washington regards as a "terrorist organization," would take over ministerial portfolios in the new Lebanese government, especially the Health Ministry, the daily quoted a U.S. State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc has been allocated “11 ministers” in the new government and this is “more than it was asking for,” FPM chief MP Jebran Bassil said on Thursday.

The eleventh minister referred to by Bassil is Hassan Mrad, who was nominated by the Consultative Gathering – a grouping of six Hizbullah-backed Sunni MPs.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the formation of his new government but pledged to “oppose” any measures that might lead to squandering public funds.

“Sheikh Saad, congratulations on the government after the strenuous efforts. We will help you within the principles that we believe in in our party and we will oppose any wrongdoing against public money and the national resources, as has happened at the Deir Amar (power plant) and the Tripoli refinery,” Jumblat tweeted.

Consultative Gathering member MP Faisal Karami announced Thursday that the grouping is not opposed to having a cabinet minister who would attend the meetings of the Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc.

“The issue of representing the Gathering has been finalized and is not an obstacle that would delay the government,” Karami said.

In light of anticipations that a breakthrough in Lebanon’s government formation could be nearing, Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat said hopes are "dim" unless Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri pulls out a surprise.

Philippe Lazzarini, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, said the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine is one of the “most stable” in the Middle East in recent years, and stressed that Lebanon and Israel “do not want war,” Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Thursday.

The security situation on Lebanon’s southern border deteriorated in December after Israel launched operation “Northern Shield” aimed at destroying Hizbullah tunnels. This prompted a military alert on both sides of the border, followed by the resumption of Israeli forces building a concrete wall at conservative border points, which increased the tensions in the region.

Acting U.N. Special Coordinator Pernille Dahler Kardel held talks Wednesday with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and described the formation of the new government as “essential both for the stability and continuity of the country’s state institutions.”

“I just had a meeting with His Excellency Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and as always it is a great honor to meet him. Today was my last meeting with him where I bid him farewell before I finish my tour in Lebanon very soon. I expressed my deepest appreciation for the partnership that he and Lebanon have shown me and how I have been helped and supported as I have been implementing my mandate during the 14 months I have been here,” Kardel said after the meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked the U.S. intelligence services as "naive" and "wrong" on the threat he says is posed by Iran.

"The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but a source of potential danger and conflict," Trump tweeted.