The U.N. Security Council on Monday condemned attacks by extremist groups in Lebanon, backing the government's military response but warning Beirut against being dragged deeper into the Syria conflict.

Scores of Lebanese soldiers have been killed and injured in three days of clashes with jihadists in the northeastern town of Arsal near the Syrian border, according to the Lebanese army.

Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel on Sunday said that Lebanon should seek the protection of the U.N. Security Council in the face of the “foreign assault” on the Bekaa border town of Arsal, where a number of troops and civilians have been killed by gunmen who infiltrated from Syria.

“We offer our condolences to the families of the army's martyrs and we hope what happened will be a lesson for the Lebanese. This assault on Lebanon must be stopped and all measures must be taken to that end,” Gemayel said in remarks to MTV.

Israel declared an end to a three-day Gaza truce only hours after it began Friday, saying it fears one of its soldiers was captured as intensive shelling killed dozens of people in southern Gaza hours into the short-lived truce.

Hamas accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire as Tel Aviv said it was responding to rocket fire.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un guided the military's latest rocket-firing drill, state media said Sunday, confirming the missile launch which was conducted in defiance of U.N. censure.   

Saturday's launch was the first since the U.N. Security Council on July 17 officially condemned Pyongyang for its recent series of ballistic missile tests, in violation of U.N. resolutions.

Accusing the Islamic State in Iraq of murder, hostage-takings and kidnappings, the U.N. envoy in Iraq on Wednesday called on the Security Council to firmly demand an end to atrocities.

Nickolay Mladenov told the 15-member Council that it was time to take a stand to end to the violence, enforce sanctions to isolate the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIL, and bring perpetrators of war crimes to justice.

With the backing of Russia, the U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the downing of a Malaysian passenger jet and demanding crash site access in rebel-held east Ukraine.

Australia took the lead in drafting the resolution that was adopted after some changes were made to satisfy Moscow.

The Syrian regime believes its "victory" over the rebellion is assured, thanks to Moscow and its other allies' support, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in a letter to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

"Syria's unwavering confidence in its victory is thanks to its people's resistance, and to the support of its friends, especially Russia," said Muallem in his letter, sent to mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Monday hit out at the "shambolic" situation at the MH17 crash site as he demanded Russian President Vladimir Putin back up assurances with action.

Abbott and Putin spoke by telephone overnight in their first conversation since the Malaysia Airlines plane, carrying 298 people, crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, apparently shot down by pro-Russian rebels with a surface-to-air missile.

The U.N. Security Council late Sunday deplored the mounting death toll in Gaza and appealed for an immediate ceasefire at an emergency session held on the worst day of fighting.

Meeting for two hours of urgent talks in New York, the 15-member Council also called for respect of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly described on Wednesday the situation along the southern Lebanese border as “dangerous,” stressing that all sides must exercise self-restraint.

“The recent developments are a serious source of concern, especially after rockets (hit Israel) for four consecutive days,” Plumbly said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.