WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has expressed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself after a series of rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel. The rocket attacks came amid rising tensions over Jerusalem and its holy sites.
In a statement to reporters, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel condemned the rocket launches, saying, “We condemn the launch of rockets from Lebanon and Gaza. Our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad, and we recognize Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression.”
Israel has been targeted by a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon on Thursday during the Jewish Passover holiday, marking the biggest escalation between the two since their 34-day war in 2006.
The Israeli military said that it had identified 34 rockets fired from Lebanese territory, 25 of which were intercepted by Israeli air defences.
Although any group did not claim the attack, it comes after Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, which drew widespread condemnation and warnings of retaliation.
A man was lightly wounded by shrapnel, and a female was injured while running to a shelter.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has called for restraint, while the Israeli military has denied retaliating thus far. Hezbollah had warned earlier that it would support “all measures” Palestinian groups may take against Israel after the clashes.
US continuous support for Israel
The rocket attacks come just weeks after clashes erupted in Jerusalem over plans to evict Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The unrest has spread to other parts of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, with militants in Gaza launching rockets into Israel and Israel carrying out airstrikes in Gaza.
The situation has escalated further in recent days, with Israel conducting airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon in response to rockets fired into its territory. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the rocket attacks from its territory, but Israel has accused the group of being behind them.
The US has been a staunch supporter of Israel for decades, providing the country with billions of dollars in military aid each year. The Biden administration has vowed to maintain this support, with President Biden reiterating his commitment to Israel’s security during a recent phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The rocket attacks from Lebanon are a reminder of the volatile situation in the region and the need for all parties to exercise patience and work towards a peaceful resolution of the Palestine conflict.
