Israel's new defense minister, Israel Katz, said in a statement that a break in Israel's offensive in Lebanon is not currently relevant.
There will be no ceasefire and there will be no break in the attacks on Hezbollah, said Katz.
However, in front of a group of high-ranking military officers, Katz opened up for a new chapter in the conflict "if opportunities arise and a good proposal is presented that allows us to declare victory – then we can consider it".
"Progress is being made"
Katz has replaced Yoav Gallant as defense minister. Gallant was dismissed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 5.
Katz, from the ruling party Likud, was previously Israel's foreign minister. He has been replaced as foreign minister by Gideon Sa'ar from the right-wing party New Hope.
There is some progress. We are cooperating with the Americans on the issue, said Sa'ar to journalists about the development in Lebanon.
He added that Israel stands firm on its basic demands that the Hezbollah movement not have any presence at the border with Israel, and that the Islamic organization not be able to receive new weapons "from Syria, via the sea or (through deliveries to) airports".
Sa'ar has previously challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the leadership post within Likud, but when Sa'ar lost, he chose to start the new party New Hope.
Unusual attack in the north
The political signals from Israel came at the same time as Israeli military attacked targets in northern Lebanon.
Israel attacked residential buildings in northern Lebanon, according to the state-controlled Lebanese news agency NNA. At least eight people were killed in the raid on Monday, and search and rescue operations continued late into the evening.
"An enemy has struck a house in the town of Ain Yaacoub", reported NNA, which means the hitherto northernmost Israeli attack in Lebanon since the offensive against the Hezbollah movement began at the end of September.
Israel's military confirmed the attack late on Monday and said that the target was a "Hezbollah terrorist" and that the type of rocket used would minimize civilian casualties.
Israel's military has primarily focused its efforts on southern and eastern Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement has its strongholds. The past week has seen targets outside these two areas attacked increasingly intensively.
The attack on northern Lebanon followed a raid on the city of Saksakiyeh in southern Lebanon on Monday. At least seven people were reported killed there.
