WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday he backed Israel's "right to protect its citizens," after the Jewish state struck dozens of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets from the Palestinian enclave.

"Once again, Israeli citizens are under attack from terrorists in Gaza, armed and financed by their puppet masters in Tehran," tweeted Pompeo, who is due to travel soon to Israel.

"We stand by our ally. Israel has the right to protect its citizens."