A branch of the Catholic church expressed deep concern Monday over reports that Israel was demolishing civilian and religious buildings in parts of southern Lebanon under its control, following claims that a convent had been bulldozed.

The Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions in southern Lebanon, citing in particular the village of Yaroun where officials said Israeli troops destroyed a Melkite convent earlier this month among other demolition. The bishops called the destruction of buildings, after residents of the area had evacuated, a "deep wound in the national and human conscience."

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Monday that the country has been placed on "a new path," and that implementing the Beirut demilitarization decision will take "weeks and months" but will be eventually implemented.

President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that a security deal and an end to Israeli attacks were needed before any meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sought by Washington.

Aoun's office said in a statement that the president "reiterated his view that the timing is not appropriate now for a meeting" with Netanyahu, and quoted Aoun as saying: "We must first reach a security agreement and stop the Israeli attacks on us before we raise the issue of a meeting between us."

Israeli police on Monday warned people not to defy the cancelation of a major pilgrimage near the border with Lebanon, scrapped because of hostilities with Hezbollah, while local media reported thousands had gathered at the site.

Fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah is ongoing in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in effect since mid-April.

Hezbollah said its forces clashed with Israeli soldiers on Monday in south Lebanon near the border where its troops are still operating, despite a ceasefire since April 17.

Hezbollah in a statement said that after Israeli troops attempted to advance near the town of Deir Seryan -- which is inside the Israeli-declared "yellow line" where Lebanese residents have been told not to return -- its fighters "opened fire on the enemy force and engaged in heavy clashes with them".

A Hezbollah lawmaker urged Lebanese authorities on Monday to declare the U.S. ambassador "persona non grata" after the envoy suggested those who had offended Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi should leave the country.

The controversy erupted on Saturday after a video published by Lebanese television channel LBCI caricatured Hezbollah leaders and fighters as characters from the "Angry Birds" mobile phone games, triggering sectarian-tinged debate.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said "eyes must be kept on Islamabad," because of the information he obtained from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, which contained "a dose of reassurances and guarantees that Lebanon will be included in Iran's negotiations with the U.S. and that its file is at the top of the agenda," a Shiite Duo source said.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa met Monday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Speaking from Bkerke before heading to Ain el-Tineh, Issa said he respects Berri who "is doing what he can for Lebanon".

Washington has informed Israel that the ceasefire with Lebanon will remain in place regardless of any developments with Iran, Israel's Channel 12 said on Monday.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Monday that he only supports "indirect diplomacy" as he lashed out again at Lebanon's plan for direct talks with Israel.

"There is no ceasefire, but rather a continuing Israeli-American aggression," Qassem said, adding that there are no yellow lines or buffer zones — "and there won't be".