Israel is pushing to hold onto a handful of positions in Lebanon after a request to keep the bulk of its troops in the country beyond next week’s deadline was rejected by the US, said people familiar with negotiations.

Lebanon wants a "full, total and unconditional withdrawal" of Israeli forces, Youssef Rajji told The National in his first trip abroad since he was nominated as foreign minister last week. Speaking on the margin of a conference in Paris to support Syria's political transition,