Mikati discusses 'need to put pressure on Israel' with UK foreign minister

In a telephone call Saturday with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, stressed "the need to put pressure on the Israeli enemy to stop directly targeting towns and villages in the south, causing death, injury and severe destruction," according to the Grand Serail.

Mikati also expressed concern that "the current cycle of violence could lead to an unforeseen escalation" amid the ongoing deadly fighting between Hezbollah and Israel on the Lebanese-Israeli border.

For his part, Lammy said he would "intensify diplomatic contacts to stop the escalation and prevent the situation escalating further," the prime minister's press office reported.

These comments come as Israel carried out a deadly strike on the Lebanese village of Kfour, in the Nabatieh district, on Friday night, killing at least 10 people, including children.