Shrapnel holes in glass windows in the aftermath of intercepted rocket fire launched from Lebanon and intercepted by Israel in its northern town of Shlomi, on April 6, 2023. (Credit: Oren Ziv/AFP)
The United States said Thursday that its ally Israel has the right to defend itself after a barrage of rockets targeted Israel following soaring tensions in Jerusalem.
"We condemn the launch of rockets from Lebanon and Gaza at Israel," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
"Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad, and we recognize Israel's legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression," he added.
Israel said it had identified 34 rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel, with 25 intercepted, in the largest escalation along the frontier since a war between Israel and Lebanon in 2006.
The rocket fire came just days after Israeli police drew widespread condemnation and warnings of retaliation from around the region for clashing with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque — Islam's third-holiest site.
"We continue to say quite forcefully that any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo is unacceptable," Patel said.
"We condemn the launch of rockets from Lebanon and Gaza at Israel," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
"Our commitment to Israel's security is...