The Israeli army on Tuesday called on the residents of 29 towns in south Lebanon to evacuate to the area north of the Awali River, as it launched what it called a “limited” ground incursion.

It identified the towns as Yaroun, Ain Ebel, Maroun al-Ras, al-Tiri, Hadatha, Aita al-Jabal, Jmeijmeh, Toulin, Deir Aames, Burj Qalaway, al-Bayada, Zebqin, Jbal al-Botm, Srebbine, al-Shaitiyeh, al-Knaysseh, al-Hinniyeh, Maarakeh, al- Ghandouriyeh, Deir Qanoun Malkiyat al-Sahel, Burj al-Shamali, Ebel al-Saqi, Srifa, Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, al-Abbasiyeh, al-Rashidiyeh, Bint Jbeil and Aitaroun.

Israel has informed the United States about limited ground operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure inside Lebanon, the State Department said Monday.

"I've seen reports about ground operations. We've had some conversations with them about that; they have at this time told us that those are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed Monday to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Lebanon is still committed to what was agreed upon with American mediator Amos Hochstein regarding a path that leads to a ceasefire with Israel and the implementation of U.N. resolution 1701.

Berri said he had agreed on a ceasefire initiative with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike on Friday, and that the agreement is still "in effect."

The Israeli military said on Monday its forces killed at least two leaders of a left-wing Palestinian armed group, hours after the organization said its members were hit in a strike in central Beirut.

Israeli fighter jets "struck and eliminated the terrorist" Mohammad Abdel-Aal, head of the Lebanon branch of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the military said in a statement.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday strongly hinted that Israel is preparing to launch a ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“The elimination of (Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not everything. We will use all the capabilities we have,” Gallant said to troops of the 188th Armored Brigade and Golani Infantry Brigade in northern Israel.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced Monday that Lebanon is ready to implement Resolution 1701 and send the army immediately to the area south of Litani should there be a ceasefire.

“We stressed our stance on the implementation of the statement issued by the U.S. and a number of European and Arab countries that called for a ceasefire and launching discussions over the implementation of Resolution 1701, and we accept everything that was mentioned in the statement,” Mikati added.

Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday eulogized Hezbollah’s slain leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a televised address and announced that Hezbollah will fight on.

"Know that Sayyed Nasrallah will always be among us,” Qassem told Hezbollah’s fighters and members.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday, stressing that the election of a president is a priority and emphasizing the importance of stopping the war between Israel and Hezbollah, a Bkirki spokesman said.

Barrot arrived in Lebanon on Sunday night, the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit since the Israeli air strikes intensified.

The Israeli military said on Sunday its air force had struck "dozens of Hezbollah terror targets" after carrying out "hundreds" of strikes on Friday and Saturday.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported a string of raids in and around the city of Baalbek in the east.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced Sunday that Lebanon is "committed to Resolution 1701" and that the army is "ready to implement it."

"We call for a ceasefire on all fronts," he said.