JERUSALEM: Israel ​is “conducting stubborn negotiations” with the US ‌on ‌the ​issue ‌of ⁠continuing its ​deployment of ⁠troops in southern ⁠Lebanon, ‌a senior ‌Israeli official ​close ‌to ‌Prime Minister Benjamin ‌Netanyahu told Reuters.

Israel has no ⁠intention ⁠of backing down on its positions, the official ​said.