UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" about hostilities that took place along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon on Monday.

It said the clashes "were initiated by Hezbollah from the Lebanese side" and "quickly spread along the entire Blue Line," adding that it regretted the casualties on both sides.

"The members of the Council expressed deep concern about the hostilities, which were initiated by Hezbollah from the Lebanese side, and which quickly spread along the entire Blue Line," the statement said.

Russia's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Andrey Denisov, who holds the council's rotating presidency, said the council appealed to all parties to respect the Blue Line in its entirety, exercise the utmost restraint and refrain from any action that could further escalate the situation.

Members of the council also repeated their call on the government of Lebanon to extend its authority and to exert its monopoly over the use of force in all of its territory in accordance with UN resolutions.

A UN spokesman said the hostilities resulted in the reported deaths of several Hezbollah fighters and an unconfirmed number of wounded on both sides, and that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon brokered a ceasefire to prevent a further escalation of tensions.

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