Residents trickled back to the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Monday as the Israeli army withdrew and Lebanese forces, alongside U.N. peacekeepers, moved in to secure the area.

This marks another town from which Israeli troops have withdrawn following the U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire that ended the 14-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel on Nov. 27.

Judicial and security officials in Beirut say a Lebanese man has confessed on giving information to Israel about Hezbollah in return for money and has been referred to the country’s prosecutors.

The three judicial and three security officials said Monday that the man, who is from the border village of Beit Leef, crossed into Israel recently where he gave information about Hezbollah posts and some members in the area before returning to Lebanon.

Shiites allies Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are trying to prove that consensus between them will continue in the new political phase in Lebanon, with Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem saying that “the selection of the new president came after consensus between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.”

Sources informed on the relation between the Shiite duo have however said, in remarks to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, that “a crisis confidence is growing” between the two parties regarding the management of the political file.

The Lebanese Forces accused Hezbollah Monday of contradicting the stances of Lebanon's new president and prime minister by refusing to be disarmed, "disavowing the ceasefire agreement."

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem had said the group’s weapons should be part of a national defense strategy that is discussed in a national dialogue and warned that no Lebanese side should try to take advantage of the Israel war to make gains internally.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has addressed fresh criticism to Hezbollah in a video that has circulated on social networking websites.

Preliminary leaks indicate that Nawaf Salam’s government will comprise five representatives of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement (five portfolios, including finance).

The past two days witnessed the first direct communication between Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and Hezbollah, after such contacts used to be conducted through Speaker Nabih Berri, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert today began a visit to Israel, where she is set to meet with senior Israeli officials.

Her discussions will focus on steps being taken towards the implementation of the cessation of hostilities understanding, which came into force on 27 November 2024, as well as on remaining challenges.

A week after Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam was tasked with forming the new government, meetings and contacts have intensified to reach a cabinet line-up in a swift manner, perhaps prior to the Israeli army’s Jan. 27 deadline for withdrawing from the south, media reports said.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said a "more hopeful" future awaits Lebanon after meeting its new leaders in a two-day visit ahead of a deadline for implementing a fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.