France, one of the council's five permanent members with veto power, is calling for the meeting after Israeli forces advanced their front lines in Lebanon.
"I have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, as nothing can justify the continued Israeli actions in Lebanon and the increasingly extensive occupation of Lebanese territory - even though Israel has the right to self-defense like all countries," Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French television channel BFMTV.
One reason said to be behind the demand for a meeting is the Israeli military's capture of the medieval Beaufort castle, which has great cultural and historical value.
