Israel last night accused Tehran of an assassination attempt after a drone loaded with explosives was launched at Benjamin Netanyahu’s parental home.
Neither the Israeli prime minister nor his wife Sara were present at the facility in the coastal town of Caesarea, between Tel Aviv and Haifa, when the plane was launched from Lebanon in the early hours yesterday.
The attack is believed to have taken place on a building near Netanyahu’s large, white-brick home. Last night, Mr Netanyahu said: “The agents of Iran who tried to kill me and my wife today made a bitter mistake.
“This will not stop me and the State of Israel from continuing the war against our enemies, taking our security for generations.
“I say to the Iranians and their partners in the axis of evil: anyone who harms the State of Israel will pay a high price.”
Israel last night accused Tehran of an assassination attempt after a drone packed with explosives was launched at the childhood home of Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured in a defiant video that told viewers: ‘I am proud of you’
Aftermath of a rocket fired into Haifa from Lebanon on Saturday
It marked a period of heightened tensions in the region, with Israeli officials condemning Iran and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, which the country supports, for the attempt on Netanyahu’s life.
Israel continued its bombardment of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza last night, while Lebanese state media reported fresh attacks on a Hezbollah stronghold near Beirut after the Israeli army ordered residents to leave the capital.
It came two days after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 massacre last year that left 1,200 dead and sparked an escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday issued a rallying cry after Sinwar’s death, vowing: “Hamas is alive and will stay alive.”
A senior Israeli official accused Iran of “(attempting) to assassinate the Prime Minister of Israel,” adding: “The order to launch the drone came directly from Tehran.” It was a large Iranian drone with an explosive payload, which was launched directly at the Prime Minister’s residence in Caesarea.
“This assassination attempt will have consequences that will be felt in Tehran.”
And in a defiant video statement earlier yesterday, Mr Netanyahu said: “Two days ago we eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the terrorist mastermind whose accomplices beheaded our men, raped our women and burned babies alive.
“We eliminated him and we continue our fight against Iran’s other terrorist allies. We’re going to win this war.’
Iran yesterday announced the strength of its so-called “axis of resistance” against Israel, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq. The ayatollah stressed that Sinwar’s death “will not stop the axis of resistance” and that Hamas would “live on.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday issued a rallying cry following the death of Yahya Sinwar, vowing: ‘Hamas is alive and will remain alive’
At least 50 people, including children, are believed to have been killed yesterday as Israel continued to bomb Gaza. The deadliest attacks took place in the northern city of Jabalia, where an overnight offensive killed more than 30 people and injured at least eight.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli strikes had also hit the upper floors of the Indonesian hospital in nearby Beit Lahiya.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer this weekend called on the international community to “make the best” of Sinwar’s death and make a renewed push for peace.
Mr Starmer joined his American, French and German counterparts in saying the leader’s death provided an “opportunity” to step up ceasefire negotiations, which have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough.