According to the State Department, “this violence endangers the residents of Israel and Lebanon, as well as endangers Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty”
According to TASS, a statement issued on Friday by Ned Price, head of the US Foreign Service press office, said US authorities condemned the rocket attacks on Israel by the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, calling on Lebanese authorities to “immediately prevent such attacks”.
“The US condemns Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel in the strongest terms. This violence endangers residents of Israel and Lebanon, and endangers Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty”, – the message reads, – “The US is in contact with Israeli and Lebanese officials, including the Lebanese Armed Forces. We call on the Lebanese government to immediately prevent such attacks and take control of the area.”
Price also called on the Lebanese authorities “to facilitate full access for UN Interim Force in Lebanon [UNIFIL] peacekeepers in accordance with UNSCR 1701.”
“We strongly urge that every effort be made to maintain calm”, – the US foreign affairs official concluded.
Earlier, the Israeli Air Force struck the southern Lebanese areas of Arkoub and Hasbaya, from where rockets were fired into the northern territory of the Jewish state on Friday. At the same time, artillery fired at Kfar Shuba Heights near the occupied Shebaa Farms. Armed militia of the Shiite Hezbollah party has claimed responsibility for the shelling of Israeli positions from southern Lebanon. A communiqué relayed by its information service stated that “Islamic resistance fighters fired dozens of rockets at Israeli army military positions located near Shebaa Farms.”