In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel has accused Iran and its proxies of attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Early on Saturday, a drone targeted Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, a coastal town where he has a holiday home. While Netanyahu was not at home at the time of the attack, his office confirmed that the incident was a targeted assassination attempt.
Netanyahu wasted no time in issuing a stern warning to Iran and its allies. “Iran’s proxies who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a grave mistake,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies in order to secure our future.” He further emphasized that Iran and its proxies would “pay a heavy price” for the attack.
The Israeli government swiftly pointed the finger at Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, as being responsible for the attack. Israeli media released footage showing a drone launched from Lebanon exploding near Netanyahu’s residence.
Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, echoed Netanyahu’s accusations, stating that the attack “exposed Iran’s true face and the evil axis it leads.”
The Israeli military confirmed that they had intercepted two additional drones that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon. While the attack caused no casualties, it has sent shockwaves through Israel and raised serious concerns about regional security.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Hezbollah has been involved in sporadic skirmishes with Israel since last October, but the targeted attack on Netanyahu represents a dramatic new chapter in the rivalry. It remains to be seen what response Israel will take in retaliation for the drone attack, but the country’s leadership has made it clear that they will not be deterred from pursuing their objectives.