France requests UN Security Council emergency meeting on Lebanon after IDF captures Beaufort Castle

France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after Israeli forces seized the medieval Beaufort castle in Lebanon, the French foreign minister says.

“I have requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council because, while we recognize Israel’s right, like that of all countries, to self-defense… nothing can justify the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon and its ever-deeper occupation of Lebanese territory,” Jean-Noel Barrot says on the BFMTV channel.

In reaction to the French request, Israel’s envoy to the UN Danny Danon says in a statement that “the real discussion in the Security Council should be about the ongoing failure to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” which ended the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006 and required that the Iran-backed terror group retreat north of the Litani. Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Lebanon and UNIFIL forces of failing to uphold the agreement.

“For years, Hezbollah has flagrantly violated UN resolutions, armed itself under Iran’s patronage, and posed a direct threat to Israeli civilians and to regional stability… Israel will continue to act against any threat to its citizens,” Danon says.