A drone strike targeted the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv, on Saturday morning, according to his office. Netanyahu and his wife were not present at the time, and there were no reported casualties.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that a drone crossed into Israeli airspace from Lebanon and struck a structure in the Caesarea area. Israeli media outlet Ynet also reported hearing an explosion in the town. The IDF further noted that two other drones were intercepted, and the incident is under investigation.
READ: Hezbollah Vows Escalation After Israel’s Killing Of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
The attack follows Israel’s recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. Sinwar’s death occurred during an Israeli military operation in Gaza after a yearlong manhunt. While some international officials have expressed hope that his death might lead to a cease-fire and potential hostage negotiations, both Israel and its adversaries, including Hamas and Hezbollah, have pledged to continue fighting.
In the hours leading up to the drone strike, air raid sirens sounded across Israel, including in the northern port city of Haifa, which has recently come under heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah. According to the IDF, at least 55 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israel within an hour on Saturday morning, with sirens sounding non-stop in the north for more than four hours.
Netanyahu, speaking after Sinwar’s death, called it the “beginning of the end” for Hamas but stressed that the conflict is far from over. Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran and an ally of Hamas, has vowed to escalate its attacks against Israel in response.
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