On Saturday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a drone attack had been launched toward th PM’s residence in Caesarea. The attack comes a day after the killing of the October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar.
The Israeli military reported that a drone from Lebanon had “hit a structure” in the central town. It was later confirmed to be the residence of Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister and his family were confirmed to be not present at the location.
Two other drones were also intercepted while a total of more than 100 rockets were fired across northern Israel from Lebanon, injuring at least 13 people.
Reports from IRNA, citing Israeli sources, indicated that the drone was launched by Hezbollah, though Israeli authorities have yet to confirm this.
Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities confirmed that two people were killed in an Israeli strike in Jounieh, north of Beirut. The Lebanese state media informed that the attack occurred on a key highway linking the capital to the country’s north.
According to an IDF statement the drone entered Israeli territory from Syria. Though there has been no confirmation of its origin, it is speculated to be from anti Israeli forces in Iraq.
The attack comes a day after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar was the purported mastermind of last year’s October 7 attacks on Israel and had become a prime target for the Israel Defence Forces.
Post the strike on Sinwar, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “Evil is no more” following the confirmation of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s death by the Israeli Defense Forces. Netanyahu also informed that Sinwar’s death was “not the end, but the beginning of the end”, to a conflict that has engulfed the entire middle east region. The Israeli PM alao went on to assure that the conflict could end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages held in Gaza.
In response to Yahya Sinwar’s death, Hezbollah announced a shift to a more aggressive phase in the conflict, while Iran claimed that his death would strengthen resistance efforts in the region.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations also condoled Sinwar’s death claiming that others will be inspired by him, describing Sinwar as as a martyr fighting on the battlefield. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also confirmed that though Sinwar has died, Hamas will continue fighting. He noted that while losing Sinwar is important, it won’t stop their efforts against Israel.