Netanyahu claims Iran-backed Hezbollah attempted to assassinate him

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group, of attempting to assassinate him, intensifying tensions in a region already on high alert after Israel vowed retaliation for a barrage of Iranian missiles. A Gaza official reported that an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza killed at least 73 people late Saturday, with more feared trapped under the rubble. Israel claimed the strike targeted a "Hamas terror site." 

Netanyahu's office said a drone was launched towards his residence in Caesarea, though neither he nor his wife were home, and there were no injuries. Netanyahu called the attempt by Hezbollah a "grave mistake" and warned that anyone trying to harm Israeli citizens would face severe consequences, directly addressing Tehran and its proxies like Hezbollah, a group Israel has been battling since late September. 

Hezbollah, funded and armed by Iran, did not claim responsibility, but Iran's UN mission said the attack was carried out by Hezbollah. An Israeli military official, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, confirmed a drone struck a building in Caesarea in an attempt to target Netanyahu. Local residents expressed increased fear, with one Caesarea resident describing a newfound sense of insecurity.

While Israel is engaged in a two-front conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, it also pledged to respond to Iran's missile attack on October 1, which Iran claimed was retaliation for the deaths of an Iranian general and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel's continued military operation has led to significant casualties, with more than 400 reported dead over two weeks in northern Gaza. An airstrike in Beit Lahia was said to have killed at least 73 Palestinians, though Israeli military reports contested some of the figures provided by Gaza authorities.

Hezbollah has pledged to escalate attacks on Israel, and on Saturday, it launched rocket strikes on northern Israel, resulting in civilian casualties. The conflict, which erupted after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, continues to claim lives, with both sides suffering significant losses. Israel has vowed to prevent Hamas from regrouping in northern Gaza, where air and ground operations have intensified. International bodies like the UN have raised alarms about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with civilians enduring extreme hardship amid the ongoing fighting. 

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israeli forces continue to strike Hezbollah targets, leading to further casualties, while G7 defense ministers urged Iran to stop supporting both Hezbollah and Hamas, expressing concerns about potential regional escalation.