The State Security announced on Friday the arrest of an Islamic State terror cell in the Mount Lebanon town of Aley, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Based on the order of the State Commissioner to the Military Court and after thorough observation, the State Security arrested the leader of the cell and its members, said NNA.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri voiced astonishment on Friday at the latest statements made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq who said that the kingdom had several roles in Lebanon's internal files, the state-run National News Agency said.

“I am surprised at the stances made by the Interior Minster that involved the kingdom in several internal files,” said Asiri in a statement.

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Friday, that he made an initiative that guarantees the representation of the Christians and Alawites in the municipal elections in Tripoli but the other party did not respond to it.

“I explained to Patriarch Bshara al-Rahi the initiative that I made to represent the Christians and Alawites in the municipal elections in Tripoli, but the other party did not reply,” said Rifi from Bkirki after a meeting with Rahi.

The army intelligence arrested two people and confiscated arms in the northern Zgharta town of Ayal, the state-run National News Agency said on Friday.

NNA said that the army carried out a raid on a farm in the town of Ayal.

Britain slammed on Friday the statements made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq that it encouraged the nomination of Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post of president.

"We do not support or oppose any particular candidate for the presidency. The election of a president is the decision, and the responsibility, of the Lebanese,” said a statement issued by the British embassy in Beirut.

Resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Thursday that he is no longer in the al-Mustaqbal movement but that he will continue to defend the political path of late PM Rafik Hariri.

“I am not in the al-Mustaqbal movement, but I am a fierce fighter in defense of the political Harirism,” said Rifi in reference to the political path of late PM Rafik Hariri.

Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb said on Thursday that the municipal elections have shown the people's yearning to practice their democratic right through elections and warned against staging the parliamentary elections before the election of a president.

“Staging the parliamentary elections before the presidential ones will push Lebanon towards an undefined adventure,” said Harb in a press conference.

The General Security announced on Thursday the arrest of a Syrian national on charges of belonging to a terror group after providing his accomplices with arms and logistical support.

“Based on the General Prosecutor's request, and within the framework of follow-up activities of terror groups and their sleeper cells, the General Security arrested Syrian M.M. for his affiliation to a terror group,” said the the General Security Directorate in a statement.

The Lebanese army killed an Islamic State group militant and arrested three others in Khirbet Daoud in Akkar, media reports said on Thursday.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi ruled out on Wednesday that the Syrian refugees and Palestinians will be resettled in Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency said.

Grandi's comments came after a meeting he held with Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi in Geneva where he is taking part in the International Labor Conference.