Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that his country's campaign in Lebanon relied both on military and diplomatic pressure to disarm Iran-allied Hezbollah.

"The overarching goal of the campaign in Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah and remove the threat to the northern communities (of Israel), through a combination of military and diplomatic measures," Katz said during a ceremony marking Israel's national day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike hit a town in the country's south on Monday despite a 10-day ceasefire in force between Israel and Hezbollah.

The state-run National News Agency said that "an enemy drone targeted the vicinity of the Litani River in the town of Qaqaiyat al-Jisr," without immediately reporting casualties.

France is investigating allegations that two Lebanese banks transferred billions of dollars out of the country despite strict capital controls during a financial crisis, a source close to the case and lawyers said Monday.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Monday expressed “profound indignation and unreserved condemnation” of the defacing of a statue of Jesus Christ by an Israeli soldier in Lebanon, saying the act “constitutes a grave affront to the Christian faith.”

Israel says it has established a "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon near the border, where its forces are operating despite a 10-day ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed Monday to the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that "Washington is making an effort to extend the ceasefire in Lebanon."

The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington will hold a second preparatory meeting Thursday at the U.S. State Department, a Lebanese official told Al-Jazeera.

The official said Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad will represent Lebanon at the meeting, which is "considered a continuation of Tuesday's meeting."

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Monday that it was in President Joseph Aoun's interest to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, while adding that his group wanted the current ceasefire to last.

"It is in the interest of the state, the interest of Lebanon, the president of the republic and the government to move away from the path of direct negotiation and return to a national understanding about the best option for Lebanon," he told AFP in an interview

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that Lebanon needs a lasting solution to permanently end the state of war with Israel, rather than merely settling for a temporary ceasefire, calling direct negotiations a "necessity" Hezbollah "forced" upon Lebanon.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Geagea said a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "necessary" and should not be postponed. "President Aoun has to speak with the Israelis," he added. "Negotiations are not an option, but a necessity forced upon Lebanon by Hezbollah."

The Israeli army said Monday it attacked overnight "a fully equipped and ready-to-fire rocket launcher in the Qalawiya area of ​​southern Lebanon, north of the front line, in order to prevent an immediate threat to northern Israeli towns."