Syria's government on Friday welcomed a nuclear deal between its key ally Iran and world powers, saying the framework agreement would "ease regional and international tensions."

"Syria welcomes the statement produced by the discussions between Iran and the P5+1 group" of world powers, state media said, citing a foreign ministry source.

Fighters from Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate and allied groups advanced Friday on a key government-held military base in northwestern Idlib province, a monitor said.

The advance follows the capture of provincial capital Idlib by Al-Nusra Front and its allies on Saturday.

Tunisia announced Thursday plans to appoint a consular or diplomatic representative to war-hit Syria, more than three years after the two countries broke off diplomatic ties.

Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche told AFP that Tunisia will have a "consular or diplomatic representative... in Syria within days to monitor the situation of Tunisians, both civilians and combatants".

President Bashar Assad's regime was reeling Thursday from a series of military setbacks after rebels seized a major provincial capital and a key border post in less than a week.

Experts said the losses were a reflection of the regime's weariness after more than four years of civil war and increasing regional efforts to counter Iran's backing for Assad.

Lebanese Force leader Samir Geagea slammed on Thursday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over his latest speech, describing his party's dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement as Fruitful.

“Lebanon has no interest in verbally assaulting Saudi Arabia or the Arab coalition,” Geagea said at a press conference held in Maarab.

Palestinian fighters and Syrian rebels retook control Thursday of large parts of a refugee camp in Damascus that had been seized by Islamic State group jihadists, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a number of armed groups in the Yarmuk camp in south Damascus "were able to regain control over all of the areas that IS had taken over." 

A Lebanese man, who was snatched earlier this week in the northeastern border town of Arsal, was reportedly handed over to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Media reports said on Thursday that Syrian opposition figures are mediating the release of Hussein Seifeddine.

The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is expected to carry out a two-day visit to Lebanon to discuss the latest developments and the bilateral ties.

Local newspapers said that Blinken, who will arrive on Sunday, will hold talks with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lauded the military leadership during a meeting he held with Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji, sources in Bkikri said on Thursday.

The sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the meeting between al-Rahi and Qahwaji, which was held on Tuesday, was “positive.”

Rebels backed by Syria's al-Qaida affiliate seized control Wednesday of the last border crossing with Jordan that had been under regime control, dealing a major blow to President Bashar Assad.

"Armed groups, joined today by al-Qaida affiliate Al-Nusra Front, took over the Nasib border point from regime soldiers" on the Syrian side of the frontier, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.