France said that "significant progress" had been made in talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, urging them to seize "this opportunity as soon as possible".

"Discussions on a ceasefire along the Blue Line have made significant progress," the French presidency said Monday. "We hope that the relevant parties will seize this opportunity as soon as possible."

Massive explosions lit up Lebanon’s skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites.

Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning.

The European Union's top diplomat said Tuesday there were "no excuses" for Israel to refuse to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, saying all its security concerns had been addressed in the U.S.-French-brokered deal.

Josep Borrell, the outgoing EU foreign policy chief, called for increased pressure on Israel to blunt extremists in the government who are refusing to accept the deal. Speaking on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting in Italy, Borrell warned that if a ceasefire is not implemented, "Lebanon will fall apart."

U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon Monday expressed worry over deadly strikes on Lebanese soldiers, which Beirut blames on Israel, despite the army staying away from fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

"UNIFIL is seriously concerned by numerous strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) inside the Lebanese territories," the peacekeepers said in a statement. The army has reported 19 members killed while on active duty.

A senior U.N. official on Monday called on all parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon to "accept a ceasefire," as new Israeli strikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs.

"I welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities and urge the parties to accept a ceasefire anchored in the full implementation of UNSCR 1701," Muhannad Hadi told the Security Council on behalf of U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland, referring to a resolution adopted in 2006 to end regional violence.

The Israeli military on Monday said it had struck around 25 targets belonging to Hezbollah across Lebanon over a one-hour period.

"Among the targets struck were the Executive Council's command centers, and intelligence control and collection centers, where Hezbollah commanders and operatives were located," the army said in a statement. The strikes took place in Nabatiyeh, Baalbek, Bekaa Valley, southern Beirut and the city's outskirts, it said.

The U.S. has informed Lebanese officials that a declaration of the war's end will be made in the coming hours, Al-Arabiya quoted sources as saying on Monday evening.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to approve the deal on Tuesday, a senior U.S. official told U.S. news portal Axios on Monday.

Lebanon’s health ministry said 12 people were killed in Israeli strikes on two locations in south Lebanon’s Tyre district on Monday.

The ministry, in separate statements, reported a strike on a road near the city of Tyre that left "six dead and body parts" requiring identification, as well as four wounded, while another left "six dead and four wounded" in the town of Maarakeh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the emerging ceasefire deal with Hezbollah “in principle” during a security consultation with Israeli officials Sunday night, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.