A terrorist drone strike targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s seaside residence was launched from Lebanon this morning. One of the buildings close to the Israeli leader’s family home was struck by the drone strike, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed.
It is understood that three drones entered Israeli airspace today after eluding the air defences – two of them were shot down after the breach.
But one of them managed to hit a building in Caesarea – extremely close to Netanyahu’s vacation home.
Netanyahu, 74 and his wife Sara, 65, were unharmed.
The IDF said: “One additional UAV hit a structure in the area of Caesarea. No injuries were reported.”
Netanyahu owns a holiday home in Caesarea, an affluent resort town in the country’s center.
Military commanders believed he was targeted by a revenge strike after his forces killed both Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, followed by Hamas kingpin Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday.
A senior Israeli official alleged that the drone strike was part of an assassination attempt plotted by Iran.
In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, a defiant Netanyahu reacted to the attack and said: “Nothing will deter us.”
An urgent probe was underway into today’s attack, which came six days after another Hezbollah drone managed to breach Israeli defences, killing four soldiers and injuring more than 60 at a northern military base.
Sergeant Omri Tamari, Sergeant Yosef Hieb, Sergeant Yoav Agmon and Sergeant Alon Amitay, all 19, died in the attack near Binyamina in central Israel.
Hezbollah said it had targeted a base belonging to the IDF’s Golani Brigade with a “swarm of drones”.
It was the deadliest strike by the terror group since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.
Israel’s military said 61 were wounded – with seven severely injured.
The drone strike hit a packed dining hall inside the base, according to local reports.
According to the Times of Israel, Hezbollah launched two “Misrad” drones into Israeli airspace from the sea.
The Alma Center, an Israeli research institute, said the drone has a 120-kilometer assault range and a top speed of 370 kilometers per hour.
It can carry up to 40 kilograms of explosives, and the ability to fly up to 3,000 metres, the institute says.
One of the drones was reportedly shot down off the coast, north of Haifa.
Hezbollah threatened more attacks after the night’s strike,
It vowed the attack “in southern Haifa is nothing compared to what awaits it if it decides to continue its aggression against our… people”.
It claimed the strike was a “complex” operation – and said the drone “exploded in the room where dozens of officers and soldiers of the Israeli enemy were present”.
With Israel’s top air defence systems, it is rare for so many people to be injured by drones or missiles.
Israel launched its ground operation in Lebanon earlier this month to weaken Hezbollah and push the terror group away from the border to allow displaced Israelis to return.
Earlier on Sunday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised that Israel would never let Hezbollah regroup along the Lebanon border.
He said: “These are military targets containing underground tunnels and weapon storages.
“Our troops found hundreds of RPGs, munitions, and anti-tank missiles here.
“The IDF is currently destroying these weapons above and under the ground.”
He said he has “instructed the IDF… to ensure that terrorists cannot return to these places”.
