Mumbai: In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Israeli media outlet Channel 12 reported on Saturday that Iran was behind an attempted assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The outlet, in a post on social media platform X, cited a senior government official who confirmed Tehran’s involvement in the attack.
The assassination attempt involved a drone strike targeting Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea, according to reports. The attack came amid a fresh wave of hostilities, as Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group operating from Lebanon, launched multiple projectiles into Israel.
In the wake of the attack, Netanyahu issued a statement expressing his resolve to continue Israel’s military campaign. “Two days ago we took out Yahya Sinwar, the terrorist mastermind. We continue our battle. Nothing will deter me,” the Israeli premier said. Sinwar, a leader of Hamas, had been targeted by Israeli forces earlier in the week.
Despite the apparent danger, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the prime minister and his wife were not at their Caesarea residence during the attack, and no injuries were reported. Israel’s military also confirmed that a drone launched from Lebanon had hit a structure in the central Israeli town.
The drone attack on Netanyahu’s residence came as Hezbollah escalated its offensive, launching a barrage of projectiles from Lebanon into northern Israel. Air raid sirens blared across the region throughout Saturday, signalling the increasing intensity of the conflict.
Israel has been engaged in military operations against Hezbollah, which is a key ally of Hamas, another group involved in recent clashes with Israel. Last month, Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon in an effort to neutralize Hezbollah’s growing threat. On Friday, Israeli forces reportedly destroyed a Hezbollah regional command centre in an air strike.
The involvement of Iran in the assassination plot adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict in the region. Tehran has been a staunch supporter of Hezbollah, and its influence over the group has been a source of concern for Israeli authorities. Iran’s connection to the drone attack marks a notable development, as Hezbollah continues to escalate its attacks on Israel.
The conflict in Gaza and Lebanon has shown no signs of de-escalation, with Israel determined to respond to Hezbollah’s provocations. Meanwhile, the attempted assassination of Netanyahu underscores the increasing threat level posed by Iran and its regional proxies, raising fears of further confrontations in the Middle East.
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