BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon is ready to negotiate to reach an agreement that would end Israeli strikes on the country and lead to Israeli withdrawal from five border hills it has occupied since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended last year, President Joseph Aoun said Friday.

In a televised speech marking Independence Day, Aoun added that Lebanese troops are ready to deploy in all points from where Israeli troops withdraw.

It was not immediately clear if Israel would accept the offer as it comes at a time when it has intensified its strikes in Lebanon. On Tuesday, an airstrike killed 13 people in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern city of Sidon in the deadliest attack since a ceasefire went into effect a year ago.

Aoun did not say whether the negotiations with Israel wo

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