France is calling for the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting as early as this week on the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group backed by Iran.

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot revealed this as he spoke on Monday at the UN Summit of the Future.

Israeli forces launched airstrikes on hundreds of targets in Lebanon on Monday, killing about 500 people.

Barrot said the strikes must immediately end and France once again is calling on the parties and those that support them to deescalate.

He also said a regional conflagration that would be devastating for everyone, first and foremost the civilian population, must be avoided.

French diplomatic sources told NHK it would be ideal if such a meeting is held on Thursday.

The council is scheduled to discuss Ukraine on Tuesday and a summit-level open debate is timetabled for Wednesday.

France has dispatched forces to a UN peace-keeping mission in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel. The former colonial ruler still has clout in Lebanon's politics and economy.