France seeks UN meeting on Israel's advance in Lebanon

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.