The United Nations human rights chief says weaponizing ordinary communication devices represents a new development in warfare.

The United Nations said the detonation of hand-held communication devices in Lebanon could constitute a war crime as Beirut's top diplomat accused Israel of orchestrating what he called a "terror" attack.

The series of explosions that rocked Lebanon this week, killing dozens and wounding thousands, has prompted debate among legal experts on international humanitarian law.

The UN's human rights chief has said that Israel's detonation of communication devices rigged with explosives is a violation of international law.

The UN human rights chief on Friday denounced the booby-trapped device attacks in Lebanon, stating that they constitute a breach of international human rights law and could amount to a war crime. Volker Turk told the Security Council,