The Lebanese army has shelled the posts of the Islamic State group on the outskirts of the eastern border towns of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek, the Army Command-Orientation Directorate said in statement on Thursday.

The Lebanese government is facing the “most difficult situation” since its formation, as ministers of Hizbullah and Amal Movement plan to travel to Syria “not according to a cabinet decision,” media reports said on Thursday.

"The government is in the worst situation since its formation. Although it passed through a period where it was unable to keep up with a number of accumulated files related to the State and people's interests, but here it is today facing an unenviable situation,” as for its relations with Syria, a ministerial source told al-Joumhouria daily.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday that is “extremely alarmed” at a pattern of recent airstrikes that have killed and injured “dozens of civilians” in the Saada and Taez governorates in Yemen.

President Michel Aoun chaired a meeting of the Higher Defense Council on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda to discuss the security situation in the country, as the army braces for a battle against jihadists, the State-run National News Agency reported.

The meeting was attended in the presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the member Ministers and leaders of the military and security apparatuses, said NNA.

The United States has reportedly warned “of depriving Lebanon of military assistance” shall the Lebanese army coordinate efforts with Hizbullah and the Syrian regime during its expected battle against the Islamic State group on the country's eastern border, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

President Michel Aoun invited the Higher Defense Council for a meeting at the Baabda Palace on Tuesday to discuss the security situation in the country, the National News Agency reported.

Aoun's call came as the army gears up to battle the Islamic State militants in eastern Lebanon.

Foreign Minister and Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil said on Monday that it is “normal for the army to be the one to liberate Lebanese territories,” pointing out that the country is celebrating the “restoration of decision making which has been absent before.”

Internal Security Forces have arrested recently a Lebanese man in the Akkar border region of Wadi Khaled over his involvement with the Islamic State group, and plotting to carry out terror attacks against the Lebanese army and security agencies, the ISF said in a statement on Monday.

The ISF said that “a special force of its division have arrested the suspect who was identified by his initials as A.Aa. late in July during a quick operation in the area.”

As reports emerge that “coordination at the military level might take place” between Lebanon and Syria, it has also been reported that around three Lebanese ministers "might make a trip to Syria to meet an invitation" of a Syrian official, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

As U.S. President Donald Trump recently stood beside Prime Minister Saad Hariri praising his government for standing up to Hizbullah, the Iranian-backed group was busy demonstrating just how wrong he was. The group's fighters were clearing the country's eastern frontier from al-Qaida fighters in a sweeping offensive and negotiating a complex prisoner deal with the group.

Far from being an ally in the fight against Hizbullah, the Lebanese government headed by Hariri is based on a partnership with the Shiite group, whose clout and dominance in Lebanon is on the rise.