Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home was targeted by a drone launched from the Lebanon, Israel has said.
The Israeli military alleged that the drone struck Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea, located on Israel’s coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa. Police said explosions were heard when the reported strike occurred.
Netanyahu said that the attempted attack will not stop Israel from winning the war. The reported attack came just days after Israeli forces eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza this week.
Sinwar, known as the leading figure behind Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack last year, was killed during a chance encounter between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants.
Images shared by Israeli forces showed Sinwar hiding in a destroyed building just moments before he was killed.
The death of Sinwar sparked anger in Iran – a huge backer of Hamas. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: “His loss is undoubtedly painful for the Axis of Resistance, but this front did not cease advancing with the martyrdom of prominent figures.
“Hamas is alive and will remain alive. He was a shining face of resistance and struggle. With a steely resolve, he stood against the oppressive and aggressive enemy.
“With wisdom and courage, he dealt them the irreparable blow of October 7 that has been recorded in the history of this region. Then, with honor and pride, he ascended to the heavens of the martyrs.”
But Netanyahu said: “The perpetrator of the most terrible massacre of our people in the history of our people since the Holocaust, the mass murderer who murdered thousands of Israelis and kidnapped hundreds of our citizens was eliminated today by our heroic soldiers.
“And today, as we promised to do, we have settled the score with him.” The Israeli military has described how Sinwar made a “critical mistake” before he died.
They said he had made himself vulnerable by leaving the Gaza tunnel network, a mistake the IDF say he was forced to make.
Major Doron Spielman continued: “In fact, just yesterday he did so [made a mistake]. He left the tunnel, went into an apartment building, and [Hamas] opened fire on Israeli troops. A tank returned fire, and he was killed in that attack.”
Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said: “Sinwar fled alone into one of the buildings. Our forces used a drone to scan the area, which you can see here in the footage I’m presenting.
“Sinwar, who was injured in his hand by gunfire, can be seen here with his face covered in his final moments, throwing a wooden plank at the drone.”
