United Nations ( CNN ) -- In a contentious closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting Tuesday , Russia criticized France 's decision to airlift weapons to rebel forces in Libya , according to a Western diplomat present during the discussions . Earlier Tuesday , French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet told reporters that parachute drops of weapons into the North African nation were `` no longer necessary '' because opposition forces had become organized enough to procure their own arms . Rebels battling Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi are `` becoming more autonomous , '' Longuet said . `` This autonomy allows them to build relationships with external partners , including when it comes to equipping themselves in self-defense , '' he said . But even as Longuet said the weapons drops were no longer needed , debate over the approach continued . Russia brought up the issue at the U.N. Security Council session Tuesday , arguing that by sending weapons , France had violated the council 's resolution that authorized NATO force in Libya , the Western diplomat said . France offered a detailed defense of the country 's actions , arguing that supplying weapons was `` the only practical way of fulfilling '' the council 's mandate authorizing force to take `` all necessary measures '' to protect civilians , the diplomat said . During Tuesday 's meeting , ambassadors from the United Kingdom and United States defended France 's actions , according to the Western diplomat . France acknowledged last Wednesday that it had supplied weapons to anti-Gadhafi forces , saying the weapons were provided for self-defense . `` It became clear that people there were defenseless and very much threatened by Gadhafi 's forces , '' French Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard said last Wednesday . Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi told reporters last week that rebel forces were receiving arms from France but were not trained in their use . He said it was reckless of France to take such action , saying it went `` against all of the proclaimed aims of NATO 's intervention in Libya . '' Meanwhile , in Libya , a rebel spokesman said fighting had moved Tuesday westward from Misrata , which rebel forces say they continue to hold . Eleven rebels were killed in Dafniya , and one was killed in Zliten , said Mohammed Ibrahim , the spokesman . Another 60 rebels were wounded in the two cities , he said , citing figures from Al-Hekma Hospital , in Misrata . Pro-Gadhafi forces fired some six rockets into Misrata , but they caused no casualties , he said . The opposition website freemisurata.com , published by Ibrahim 's group , said at least 20 members of Gadhafi 's forces were killed and six were captured Tuesday in Dafniya and Zliten . CNN 's Richard Roth and Mick B. Krever and journalists Catherine Clifford and Dheepthi Namasivayam contributed to this report .
Israel claims that France violated a UN Security Council resolution , a diplomat says . Diplomat : Drops were ` ` the only practical way of fulfilling '' the council 's mandate . United States , United Kingdom defend France , the diplomat says . France 's defense minister says the weapons drops are no longer necessary .