Paris, May 31 (QNA) – French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Sunday that France has requested a United Nations (UN) Security Council emergency meeting, following Israeli’s capture of the strategic Beaufort Castle (Qalaat Al Shaqif) in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, Barrot said that Israel’s ground incursion and the expansion of its military operations in Lebanon constitute a grave mistake and a violation of international law.

Nothing justifies the extension of Israeli military operations in Lebanon or its broader occupation of Lebanese territory, he added.

This advance into Lebanese territory not only contradicts Israel’s commitments given the ceasefire in place since April 17, but also violates international law, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs said.

The Israeli entity has recently intensified its military operations in southern Lebanon by carrying out airstrikes and expanding its ground incursions into a number of southern villages and towns, culminating in the capture of the Beaufort Castle, amid warnings of a worsening humanitarian and security situation in the region. (QNA)