The two men reiterated “the importance of obtaining an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces behind the Blue Line,” which serves as an unofficial frontier between the two countries, SANA said.

With world powers gathered at the United Nations trying to seek an end to the 24-day conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, D’Alema and Muallem said “no political solution that does not have the support of all the Lebanese can be imposed”.

Muallem, whose country is along with Iran one of Hezbollah’s main supporters, saluted Italy’s position that there could be no military solution to the conflict.

D’Alema called in late July for the European Union to engage Syria and Iran and use them to find a solution to the conflict that has seen almost 1,000 people killed in Lebanon and 75 in Israel.