France calls for emergency meeting of UN Security Council

TT

Published 13.08

 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Archive photo. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

France has submitted an official request for an extraordinary meeting on developments in Lebanon to the UN Security Council in New York.

France, which is one of the council's five permanent members with veto power, is demanding the meeting after Israel moved forward front lines in Lebanon.

- I have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. as nothing can justify the continued Israeli operations in Lebanon and the increasingly extensive occupation of Lebanese territory - even though Israel has the right to self-defense like all countries do, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot tells the French television channel BFMTV.

One reason for the demand for a meeting is said to be the Israeli military's capture of the medieval Beaufort castle, which has great cultural and historical value.