US will 'keep supporting Israel's right to defend itself': national security spokesman

The United States said Saturday it would "keep supporting Israel's right to defend itself" as the Israeli military announced it was conducting pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon after detecting preparations for attacks by Hezbollah.

At President Joe Biden's direction, "senior US officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts," US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement. "We will keep supporting Israel's right to defend itself, and we will keep working for regional stability."

AFP