An explosive drone launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon struck the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coastal town of Caesarea on Saturday. Israeli authorities confirmed that the drone targeted Netanyahu’s house, though no casualties were reported as neither Netanyahu nor his wife was present at the time. This marks the second direct attempt on Netanyahu in recent months, following a September missile strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting Ben Gurion Airport.
Three drones were launched in total, with two being intercepted near Rosh Hanikra and Nahariya, while the third reached Caesarea. Initial reports by Axios and The Guardian confirmed that Netanyahu’s home sustained superficial damage. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack, though the group continues to engage in rocket strikes against Israel. The Lebanese militant group is widely regarded as a proxy of Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas. Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, were quick to attribute the drone attack to Hezbollah, vowing retaliation and warning Tehran that it would “pay a price.”
🚨HEZBOLLAH DRONE HITS NETANYAHU’S HOUSE
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office
A drone was launched from Lebanon and directly hit Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea
The drone that hit Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea exploded despite Israeli military helicopters chasing it the… pic.twitter.com/f8L9hWE8kz
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) October 19, 2024
In response to the drone strike and ongoing hostilities, Israel carried out multiple airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli military forces targeted Hezbollah positions as tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed group escalate amid broader regional conflict. The drone attack came shortly after Hezbollah declared a new phase in the fighting, coinciding with Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza following the death of Hamas mastermind Yahya Sinwar, a key figure in the October 2023 attack on Israel.
Following the drone strike, Netanyahu issued a statement calling the attempted attack a “bitter mistake” and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to retaliate. Israeli political and military figures echoed this sentiment, with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Culture Minister Miki Zohar both asserting that Hezbollah and Iran would face serious consequences. Ohana emphasized the gravity of targeting Israel’s prime minister, calling it a direct assault on the nation’s leadership.
As the situation in Gaza also deteriorated, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed 73 civilians in Beit Lahiya on Saturday, according to Reuters. The Israeli military responded to these reports, asserting that casualty numbers from Hamas-run media are often exaggerated. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed relief that Netanyahu was unharmed and reiterated U.S. support for Israel during a call with Gallant, signaling continued U.S.-Israeli cooperation amid the region’s escalating tensions.
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