The US State Department has said Israel was defending itself from rocket attacks that came from Lebanon and that it was incumbent upon the Lebanese government to disarm groups such as Hezbollah, Reuters reports.

The comment from a State Department spokesperson came in a press briefing when asked about Israel conducting its first strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs since a shaky ceasefire deal was struck in November.

The strike targeted a building in a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh that Israel said was a drone storage facility belonging to the resistance group.

“Israel is defending its people and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon,” the State Department spokesperson insisted.

“As part of the cessation of hostilities agreement, the government of Lebanon is responsible for disarming Hezbollah and we expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further hostilities.”