The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq said on Monday that he will tackle the Arsal captives dossier, more specifically the blocked roads issue, with Prime Minister Tammam Salam who returned late on Sunday to Beirut.
In an interview with As-Safir newspaper, Mashnouq said mediation efforts being exerted to release the kidnapped troops have not yielded "serious" results so far.
On another note, Mashnouq said he will discuss his proposal to establish a Syrian refugee camp on the outskirts of Arsal with Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement and other cabinet components.
"I expect concrete measures to be implemented within two weeks," he added.
Sources told An-Nahar daily on Monday that there were no new developments regarding the Arsal captives dossier, noting that relevant discussions will be resumed, as of today, following the return of Prime Minister Tammam Salam from New York.
"The file of the kidnapped Lebanese troops will be tackled by the cabinet on Thursday," the sources said.
The newspaper also said PM Salam will be in favor of holding negotiations as well as reaching a swap deal to release the captives, adding that the cabinet will endeavor to hammer out a unified stance regarding negotiations.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam said he prioritizes the election of a new Lebanese president, noting that he asked Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to provide assistance in this regard.
Lebanon is facing terrorism, Salam told An-Nahar daily on Monday, saying "the international coalition's strikes against terrorist groups, including the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, fall in our interest".
"Nonetheless, I cannot reassure the Lebanese people by saying that the regional situation will not affect them," PM Salam added.
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday that the Qatari delegate has resumed negotiations between the Lebanese state and the kidnappers of army soldiers and policemen.
"The delegate, who held meetings with both sides during the last two days, had failed to come to Lebanon in the last two weeks for undisclosed reasons," the daily said.
Sources with knowledge of the negotiations also noted that the mediator, who was dispatched by Qatar, has received a verbal pledge from Islamic State and Nusra Front militants who kidnapped the Lebanese soldiers, vowing that none of the hostages will be killed.