Washington - The United States condemned the rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel that took place early Thursday morning and urged both sides to refrain from any steps that would escalate the conflict.

US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said the attacks violated a United Nations Security Council resolution. The Lebanese government quickly condemned the attacks.

No one has claimed responsibility for the three rockets that were fired into Israel and slightly injured two people in the coastal city of Nahariya.

"We condemn the attack that took place into Israel ... and we definitely do not want to see this conflict widened," Wood said.

The militant group Hezbollah, which in the past carried out rocket attacks into Israel, denied any involvement. Israel responded with mortar fire on the suspected launch sites. There were no reports of casualties.

The attacks came as Israel wages a major offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets fired by the militant group Hamas. (dpa)