Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, defended Israel at an emergency session called by France Monday regarding Israel’s decision to push deeper into Lebanon.

China, Russia and the United Kingdom joined France in harshly condemning Israel.

Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s U.N. envoy, called Israel’s move a “strategic mistake” and that “nothing can justify the continuation and scale of its military operations in Lebanon,” despite acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself.

The U.K. ambassador, James Kariuki, said Israel’s actions were a “reckless and disproportionate escalation” that added “further strain” to the Lebanese government.

Only the United States stood by Israel, with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz lauding Israel’s demonstration “of real courage and leadership” as it fights to free Israel from the threat of a terrorist Iranian proxy that is strangling Lebanon.

Danny Danon fired back at Israel’s critics.

Israel “did not wake up one morning and decide to enter Lebanon,” Danon said, adding that Israel “had no choice” in the face of relentless rocket and drone attacks against civilians in Israel’s north despite the ceasefire. He pointedly asked the French envoy what France would do if attacked by Spain.

“Would you wait until the drones were buzzing over Paris?” he demanded.

During the past weeks of negotiations between Beirut and Jerusalem, Hezbollah increased its attacks on Israel. While the Lebanese government has done nothing to deter Hezbollah, Israel has pushed deeper into Lebanon, capturing the Hezbollah stronghold at Beaufort Castle Sunday. Trump demanded a complete cessation of hostilities from all sides Monday, but so far Hezbollah has resisted the call to cease fire.

Meanwhile, Israel said that if Hezbollah continues attacking, the IDF will continue to ramp up its operations against Hezbollah, even going so far as to strike in Beirut, Trump’s demands notwithstanding.