The Lebanese cabinet formalized key security appointments, naming Rodolphe Haykal as Army Commander along with new heads for Internal Security Forces and General Security. This followed days of negotiations between Lebanon's political factions.
Israel released soldier Ziad Shibli, the fifth Lebanese prisoner freed this week, marking continued progress in the prisoner exchange process that began Tuesday.
The Justice Minister requested adding Hezbollah's disarmament timeline to the next cabinet meeting agenda, while Prime Minister Salam emphasized no project supersedes restoring the state's exclusive authority over war and peace decisions.
Netanyahu vowed Israel would not withdraw from five control points in Lebanese territory, contradicting Lebanese sovereignty claims. Meanwhile, Lebanese officials clarified that talks with Israel remain indirect, explicitly rejecting normalization suggestions that emerged in yesterday's Israeli proposals.
IMF discussions resumed with Lebanon renewing its assistance request, as economic reform planning advanced.