PM Netanyahu’s residence targeted by drone in assassination attempt

A drone has been launched towards Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea, central Israel, his office said in a statement.

The prime minister’s spokeswoman confirmed the attack, saying Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time of the strike.

There were no casualties in the attack, the spokesman added.

Earlier, the Israeli military said three drones had been fired towards the coastal town early on Saturday.

One hit a building, while the other two were intercepted, it added.

The attack comes just days after Israel killed Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, during a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Sinwar was the architect of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, and his killing in battle was the culmination of a year-long manhunt by the IDF, but the latest strikes have provided a quick reality to check for any hopes his death could spell an end to the conflict.

In an earlier statement, Israel‘s military said a drone launched from Lebanon “hit a structure in the area of Caesarea.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its air force has killed Hezbollah’s deputy commander in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon.

According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Naser Abed al-Aziz Rashid was involved in “terrorist activities against Israeli civilians”.

In a related development, one Israeli was on Saturday killed and others injured in a series of barrages from southern Lebanon, Israeli emergency services say.

The IDF said a total of 150 launches from southern Lebanon on Saturday had been detected.

One person was killed in Acre, northern Israel. Paramedics said the 50-year-old man was hit by shrapnel while sitting in his car.

Another person injured by shrapnel at the same location was evacuated in moderate condition to the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya.

Cross-border attacks have intensified in recent weeks but Israeli fatalities are rare.

A barrage aimed at the city of Haifa damaged a home in Kiryat Ata, according to emergency services.

Ten people in the area had been taken to hospital. Three people suffered shrapnel injuries, while others were suffering from shock.

Following damage to an open road in Western Galilee, four people were referred to the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya, including a man who was in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries.