The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that Israel was merely defending itself against rocket attacks originating from Lebanon, placing the blame for the resumption of hostilities squarely on "terrorists."

“Hostilities have resumed because terrorists launched rockets into Israel from Lebanon,” Reuters quoted a spokesperson for the State Department as saying in an email.

The statement reinforced Washington’s position of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself in the face of such attacks.

At least three people were killed and seven others wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs early on Tuesday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that it targeted a Hezbollah militant who had recently been involved in directing Hamas operatives and providing them with assistance.