NATIONAL self-defence used to mean action by a country to defend itself against an attack launched by another state, but that definition no longer applies to the Middle East.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders condemned what she called Iran's "provocative rocket attacks from Syria against Israeli citizens" and expressed strong support for "Israel's right to act in self-defence.”

Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman played Little Sir Echo to Washington, declaring: "We condemn Iran's attack on Israel. Israel has every right to defend itself.”