The UN Security Council warned of escalation following the explosions of communications devices in Lebanon and the Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut, calling on all parties to exercise restraint.

This came in speeches delivered by delegates of member states during an emergency session held by the UN Security Council in New York, to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon.

At the request of Algeria, the only Arab member of the Security Council, the UN Security Council held a session during which it heard two briefings from high-level UN officials on recent developments in Lebanon and the region.

Earlier on Friday, Lebanon announced that 14 people were killed and 66 injured, including a large number of children and women, in an Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut, according to a preliminary toll from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.