Relatives of the kidnapped servicemen taken hostage by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front blocked the Banks street in Riad al-Solh square on Sunday protesting the delay in efforts to free their sons.

“We have heard nothing about our sons since eight months. We have information that the crisis cell is exerting no efforts currently,” they stated.

Social affairs Minister Rashid Derbas stressed on Sunday that PM Tammam Salam is holding intensive contacts with Speaker Nabih Berri to overcome the obstacles hampering a cabinet convention.

“Prime Minister Tammam Salam will call for a cabinet convention following the successive dialogue sessions. He is holding contacts with the Speaker to get over the obstacles,” the state-run National News Agency quoted Derbas.

U.S. ambassador to Lebanon David Hale stated on Friday that his country is doubling the baseline amount of U.S. military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces this year compared to last.

“America believes that the army is the sole institution with the legitimacy and mandate to defend the country and its people. To fulfill its mission, it must have the necessary equipment and training,” said Hale after meeting PM Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.

The U.N. chief's Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini, has lamented that the response of the international community to the needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and other countries is weak.

In an interview with An Nahar daily published on Wednesday, Lazzarini said: “The response does not meet the needs.”

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has warned that Israel will not tolerate advanced weapons reaching Hizbullah, which has fought alongside Syrian troops.

“Those who try to violate our sovereignty – we will strike them, and those who try to transfer advanced weapons to terror elements, with an emphasis on Hizbullah, we will strike them, and those who try to transfer chemical weapons to terror elements, we will strike them,” Yaalon said on Tuesday during a visit to Gaza-border communities.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam disclosed on Monday that he supports the demands of the civil society, slamming accusations that the demonstrations are orchestrated from abroad.

“The demands of the civil society are righteous, I am probably somewhere in support of their demands and I'm not with the political forces in this matter,” Salam told the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri criticized on Saturday Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's position saying that the latter has linked the fate of Lebanon's presidency to that in Syria, dimming the hopes to have a head of state.

“Sayyed Hassan has announced that Lebanon will not have a president before knowing the fate of the presidency in Syria,” said Hariri via twitter.

The Lebanese army arrested a Palestinian national in the refugee camp of Sabra following a dispute that developed into an exchange of fire.

“Late on Friday, clashes that erupted between Palestinian nationals in Sabra region aggravated and developed into torching some houses and an exchange of fire,” the army said in a communique on Saturday.

PM Tammam Salam held a meeting on Friday with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Anne Richard where talks highlighted the burden of Syrian refugees on Lebanon.

“We always call on all relevant officials to ease the burden of Syrian refugees on Lebanon,” Salam told Richard.

European Union leaders, faced with a staggering migration crisis and deep divisions over how to tackle it, managed to agree early Thursday to boost border controls to ease the influx and to send 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to international agencies helping refugees at camps near their home countries.

The leaders also pledged to boost support to Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan to help them cope with the millions fleeing the fighting in Syria.