BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon will seek an extension of the ceasefire and press Israel to halt demolition operations in the country's south during upcoming talks in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday.
Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, will represent the country at a U.S. State Department meeting Wednesday, where she is expected to raise the issue of extending the ceasefire, the National News Agency (NNA) reported, citing Aoun.
The president said there would be no concessions, compromises, or surrender in the talks, but only steps that serve Lebanese sovereignty and the interests of all citizens.
He added that negotiation remains the viable path forward, arguing that past experience shows war brings only death, destruction and displacement.
Separately, on Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel and Lebanon have no major differences, but accused Hezbollah of being an obstacle to peace and normalization between the two countries. He called on the Lebanese government to cooperate against what he described as a "terrorist state" established by Hezbollah on Lebanese territory.
Meanwhile, one person was killed, and two others were injured overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in an Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of the Al Jabour area in Lebanon's Western Bekaa, according to NNA.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces continued shelling towns and demolishing homes and buildings, the agency reported. The Israeli strikes come despite a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect April 16, following a U.S.-announced agreement aimed at halting weeks of escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
On April 14, Israeli and Lebanese officials held talks in Washington, where they outlined differing expectations for a peace deal, according to a U.S. State Department statement. Israel has pressed for Hezbollah's disarmament, while Lebanon has called for a ceasefire and steps to ease the humanitarian crisis.
A next round of talks is scheduled for Thursday in Washington. ■
