Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday said there had been "certain progress" on a ceasefire in Lebanon after the Israeli army launched an operation in the country targeting Hezbollah.

"There is certain progress," Saar said in response to a question about a possible ceasefire. "We are working with the Americans on the issue," he told reporters in Jerusalem.

Hezbollah said on Monday that the Israeli military has been unable to occupy even a single village in Lebanon since launching cross-border ground operations in September.

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who is close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has paid a secret visit to Russia in a bid to reach a settlement with Lebanon, the Israeli army radio reported.

Israeli air strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs overnight Friday shortly after Israel's military warned residents to leave parts of the area.

An air raid hit near the Lebanese University in Hadath and another on the Burj al-Barajneh suburb.

UNIFIL has accused the Israeli army of deliberately attacking its positions and of recently destroying part of a fence and a concrete structure in a UNIFIL position in Ras Naqoura.

"Yesterday, two IDF excavators and one IDF bulldozer destroyed part of a fence and a concrete structure in a UNIFIL position in Ras Naqoura. In response to our urgent protest, the IDF denied any activity was taking place inside the UNIFIL position," UNIFIL said in a statement.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that he would accept that a parliamentary session be held to elect a new president without the participation of the Shiite MPs in it.

There is “nothing more symbolic of victory” than the safe return of displaced residents to north Israel, Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi told heads of local authorities during a meeting in the north.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab on Friday said that Israel is “obliged to resort to a diplomatic solution” with Lebanon and that “the atmosphere is suitable for that.”

Israel is drawing up plans to expand its ground offensive in southern Lebanon alongside the diplomatic efforts, Israel’s top general said, as its warplanes intensified their air campaign against targets in Lebanon.

Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israeli army, said that “alongside the political attempt to reach understandings in Lebanon,” the Israeli army “must continue to formulate plans to continue the fighting in Lebanon, including expanding and deepening the ground maneuver.”

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will “fulfill the promises” that he had made in the letter that he had recently addressed to Lebanese-American voters, Trump’s Arab affairs adviser Massad Boulos said.