BEIRUT, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday he hopes talks scheduled to be held in Rome on Tuesday and Wednesday will lead to the start of an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
Aoun stressed that he would not compromise on the country's sovereign rights, saying the recently signed framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel confirms Israel has "no territorial ambitions in Lebanon."
The president added that he would explain Lebanon's position to U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington on July 21, and ask him to exert pressure on Israel to implement the framework agreement and meet Lebanon's demands.
The Israeli withdrawal is part of the framework agreement signed in Washington in late June.
The next round of Israel-Lebanon talks, expected to take place in Rome, will mark the sixth round of negotiations between the two countries, following five ambassador-level talks held in Washington since April.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued operations across southern Lebanon on Monday, demolishing and torching homes in Hadatha, dropping incendiary bombs on Kfar Remmen, and shelling the area between Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit, Lebanese media reported. ■
