ALWAGHT- A drone launched by the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah struck the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv, following a failed interception attempt.
The Times of Israel reported on Saturday that one of three drones launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Caesarea, south of Haifa. Social media posts in Israel also claimed that the building hit was part of Netanyahu's home. Israeli media refrained from providing details on the extent of damage or potential casualties due to a military-imposed information ban. Reports confirmed that Netanyahu was not at the residence during the attack, and no injuries were reported.
Israel's military acknowledged a failure in their air defenses, admitting they were unable to intercept the drone as it flew over the occupied territories. One report mentioned that the drone flew near a military helicopter searching for it outside Haifa. While two drones were detected and intercepted, the third one successfully hit its target in Caesarea, with witnesses reporting a significant explosion.
Earlier that day, Hezbollah also launched a series of drone and missile attacks on key Israeli military sites in Haifa and other areas, in retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s statement emphasized their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their commitment to defending Lebanon and deterring Israeli aggression. They claimed to have struck the Nashrim military base southeast of Haifa, as well as illegal settlements and Israeli military gatherings.
Hezbollah declared the beginning of a new, more intense phase in their operations against Israel in response to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza. Since late September, Israel has escalated its attacks on Hezbollah, killing its leader, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, and other senior figures. The clashes have resulted in over 2,350 deaths and 10,906 injuries, as reported by the health ministry.