A Hezbollah drone managed to evade Israeli air defenses and strike near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home in Caesarea early on Saturday. Though the drone hit a structure close to his residence, Netanyahu and his wife were not present at the time, and no injuries were reported.
At a glance:
- A Hezbollah drone targeted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, but he and his wife were not at home during the attack.
- Three drones from Lebanon were launched into Israeli territory, with two intercepted and one striking a structure.
- Netanyahu condemned the attack, vowing that Israel would continue its military efforts against Iran’s proxies, including Hezbollah.
In a rare security breach, a Hezbollah drone penetrated Israeli airspace on Saturday morning and struck a structure near the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the drone was one of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Lebanon, two of which were intercepted before they could cause any damage. However, one drone succeeded in hitting a building in the upscale seaside town of Caesarea, known for its luxury homes and historical Roman ruins.
The IDF immediately released a statement confirming the incident, noting that while the prime minister’s home was targeted, neither Netanyahu nor his wife was at the residence at the time of the attack. The military has launched an investigation into the failure of the defense system to prevent the drone from reaching its target.
In response to the drone strike, Netanyahu released a forceful statement later in the day, accusing Iran-backed Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him. “The agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake,” Netanyahu said. He assured the public that the attack would not deter Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah and Hamas, further emphasizing that “anyone who harms Israelis will pay a heavy price.”
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This latest incident is part of the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group. Since the beginning of the recent war, Hezbollah has increased its attacks on Israeli targets, launching rockets and drones across the northern border. In recent weeks, Israel has responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, as well as ongoing military operations in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas, another Iranian-backed terror group.
Though there were no casualties reported in the drone strike, the targeting of Netanyahu’s home represents a significant escalation in the conflict. Hezbollah has long threatened to attack high-profile Israeli targets, and this incident marks the first time in the current conflict that a target directly linked to the prime minister has been hit.
Israel’s defense forces are expected to respond swiftly, with military analysts suggesting that the apparent attempt on Netanyahu’s life could lead to broader strikes, potentially even targeting Iranian interests. As tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran continue to escalate, the region faces the possibility of a wider conflict in the near future.
