6 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The United States on Thursday condemned the launch of 34 rockets from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, although it recalled that the Israeli side has a “legitimate right to defend itself” against any form of aggression.
“Our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad,” Patel said at a press conference, adding his condemnation of the launches, although specifying that Washington recognizes Israel’s “legitimate right” to defend itself against any form of aggression.
For his part, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, condemned the launch of the missiles at a press conference and called on the parties to maintain “maximum restraint”.
Dujarric has also stressed that the United Nations, together with its mission in Lebanon, are in contact with the parties and has once again reiterated that “unilateral actions” that could create an “escalation” of tensions in the region should be avoided.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported that the air defense system, known as ‘Iron Dome’, has intercepted 25 of the 34 projectiles, while another five have fallen on Israeli territory. The remaining four launches are still being investigated and further details are unknown.
This umpteenth episode of hostilities comes after Israel bombed facilities of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire by Palestinians, all amid tensions over disputes over the Al Aqsa Mosque, located on the Esplanade of Mosques.
Hours before Israel reported these attacks, the Lebanese Shiite militia party Hezbollah denounced in a statement the assault carried out by Israeli security forces on Tuesday night at the said mosque, located in Jerusalem, when dozens of worshipers They were celebrating the month of Ramadan.
