President Joseph Aoun arrived Monday in Athens for an official visit to meet with his Greek counterpart, President Konstantinos Tasoulas, at the Presidential Mansion, in efforts to secure international backing to a framework agreement with Israel and an end to hostilities in south Lebanon.

Speaking from Greece, President Aoun stated that the U.S.-sponsored framework deal should be implemented fully and bilaterally, rather than selectively or unilaterally.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Sunday warned that "any retreat" in the face of the U.S. and Israel will lead to the "annihilation" of Iran, Hezbollah, their allies, and Muslims in general.

The U.S. and Israel "act ruthlessly to dominate the world. Any resistance, regardless of the cost, will halt the enemy's advance and pave the way for us to regain our standing," Qassem said.

President Joseph Aoun on Sunday marked the 48th anniversary of the disappearance of revered Shiite cleric Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his companions by saying that he refuses to allow the South to remain a "forgotten region" or a bargaining chip.

The president added that the only legitimate weapons protecting the land should be those of the state.

A U.S. Department of State spokesperson has said that "the Trilateral Framework clearly states that the Lebanese Government is the sole legitimate interlocutor for discussions about the future of Lebanon and on behalf of the Lebanese people."

"The United States stands with the Lebanese people and wants Lebanon to be a safe and sovereign country. For that to happen, Hizballah must disarm," the spokesperson added.

From a Roman temple to ancient olive presses, Lebanon keeps turning up archaeological treasures even as the latest Israel-Hezbollah war has caused excavations to grind to a halt at precious heritage sites in the country's south.

The U.N. Security Council met behind closed doors Friday and discussed a request by Lebanon’s government to extend the mandate for the 8,100-member UNIFIL force, which is supposed to end on Dec. 31, two diplomats with knowledge of the discussion said.

While there was “strong support” among the 15 council members to extend the mandate for the force, known as UNIFIL, it wasn’t unanimous, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has again rejected a deal struck between Israel and Lebanon and said his Iran-backed group refused to "surrender" nearly six months after war erupted with Israel.

The Israeli government has informed the United States that the "pilot zones" plan in southern Lebanon has failed, an Israeli security source said.

Israel "believes the Lebanese army is not destroying terrorist infrastructure, despite receiving coordinates provided by the Israeli army," the source told Israeli news portal Walla.

A settlement is being negotiated behind the scenes concerning the Ali al-Taher hill, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

“This settlement, involving the Americans and Israelis on one side, and the Iranians and Hezbollah on the other, stipulates the withdrawal of Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard fighters from the hill and the entry of Lebanese Army units,” the daily said.

The reports about a possible meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and officials from Hezbollah are baseless and there is no intention for any communication, diplomatic sources told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel on Friday.

MTV had reported overnight that Issa had obtained a green light from his administration for meeting a figure from Hezbollah.