WASHINGTON — The U.S. government on Tuesday announced sanctions against two former Lebanese ministers, accusing them of supporting Hezbollah.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that former Lebanese government ministers Youssef Fenianos and Ali Hassan Khalil had been blacklisted for corruption and providing material support to Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. (US-Sanctions-Lebanon)

– – – –

BAGHDAD — A security member was killed, three others and a truck driver were wounded on Tuesday in two roadside bomb explosions targeting convoys of trucks belonging to the U.S.-led coalition in south and north of Baghdad, the Iraqi military said.

In one attack, a roadside bomb went off near a convoy of vehicles carrying logistical support for the international coalition on the highway between the provinces of al-Qadsiyah and Babil in the south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. (Iraq-Bomb)

– – – –

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chad Cabinet Chairman Abdelkerim Deby on Tuesday discussed the exchange of ambassadors to advance the bilateral ties, the Israeli PM’s office said.

During a meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu and Deby, who is also Chadian President Idriss Deby’s son, talked about “the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of representations,” said a statement issued by the Israeli PM’s office. (Israel-Chad-Envoys Exchange)

– – – –

KIEV– Ukrainian and Romanian maritime forces started Riverine 2020 drills in Izmail in the south of Ukraine, the ArmyInform news agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

Riverine 2020 officials said the main goal of the exercise is to strengthen regional security and improve interoperability between the fleets of the two countries. The training will be performed under NATO standards. (Ukraine-Romania-Riverine)

– – – –

PARIS — French Prime Minister Jean Castex has tested negative for COVID-19 after having been in contact with the boss of Tour de France who had tested positive for the coronavirus, Castex’s office said on Tuesday.

“The test undergone today by the Prime Minister, who does not present any symptom, is negative,” said Castex’s office in a statement, adding that he will undergo another test in seven days. (France-Coronavirus)