France has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as Israel forces advanced further into southern Lebanon, seizing a historical landmark as a base for expanded attacks on Hezbollah.
"Nothing can justify the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and an ever-deeper occupation of Lebanese territory," Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the French broadcaster BFMTV.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli army said it would scale up its destruction of Hezbollah assets after raising the country's flag on the strategically important Beaufort Castle, a 12th century stronghold that commands the surrounding area.
Barrot said he had requested the convening of the Security Council because the development represented a further escalation.
Whilst France recognises Israel's right to self-defence against attacks by the Iran-backed militia, "nothing justifies this development," he told the news channel.
It also constituted a "grave mistake" and a violation of international law, he said.
