Lebanese army troops accompanied by UN peacekeepers entered the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura on Monday after Israeli troops withdrew from the area, state media and security sources said. The step came after the five-member ceasefire committee met in Naqoura in the presence of US envoy Amos Hochstein,

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to pull their forces out of southern Lebanon before the end of January. The area will then be secured by the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers, as part of the agreed conditions of the ceasefire.

The Israeli Army has withdrawn from the western sector of south Lebanon, enabling the Lebanese Army's deployment in coordination with the UN.

Soldiers from the Lebanese army prepare to deploy in a border town following the Israeli army withdrawal in Naqoura

The Lebanese army Command announced on Monday that its units have begun deploying in Naqoura, in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), after the Israeli Occupation withdrew from it.

With the deadline looming for the terms of a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah to be met, an American diplomat on Monday said “much progress” had been made recently.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein the Israeli Army has started to withdraw from the western sector of south Lebanon and will continue to do so until completely out of Lebanon in what he described as "a successful process.