A TERROR drone attack launched by Hezbollah directly hit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s seaside residence inside Israel.
Declassified images shared by Israeli authorities show the extent of damage caused by one of the drones that managed to elude the Israeli air defences.
XA picture showing Netanyahyu’s bedroom window that was directly hit[/caption]
XShards of glass were seen lying around in the backyard[/caption]
XFootage posted to social media on October 19 purports to show an Israeli chopper engaging a drone launched from Lebanon[/caption]
AFPIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed revenge against Iran[/caption]
The pictures, previously censored by the Israeli military, reveal a massive crack in the leader’s bedroom window along with scorch marks on the wall.
It is understood that the flying projectile narrowly missed entering the home because of reinforced glass and other protective measures.
Huge shards of glass were found floating on the water in the swimming pool while other damaged bits from the building were seen scattered around Netaunyahu’s backyard.
It is understood that three drones launched by Hezbollah entered Israeli airspace on Saturday after eluding the air defences.
Two of them were shot down after the breach.
But one managed to hit his vacation home in Caesarea – an affluent resort town in the centre of the country.
Footage posted on social media appeared to show an Israeli chopper hunting down what is believed to be one of the drones that was part of the wider attack.
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.”
A local resident told Israeli Channel 12: “Suddenly a large explosion was heard and it was not clear to us if it was from an interception or a drone impact.
“It was very worrying; luckily, there are no casualties.”
Another resident added: “It was not clear what was happening, then there was a huge explosion, very strong.”
In a rare video statement posted on social media, a defiant Netanyahu reacted to the attack and said: “Nothing will deter us.”
Filmed wearing a black polo shirt and sunglasses, The Israeli leader added: “We’re in an existential war, and we’re continuing to the end.”
Military commanders believe he was targeted by a revenge strike after his forces killed both Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, followed by Hamas kingpin Yahya Sinwar last week.
Netanyahu alleged that the drone strike was part of an assassination attempt plotted by Iran.
He said: “The agents of Iran who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake.”
He said the attack would not deter him from continuing the war and that anyone who harmed Israelis would pay “a heavy price”.
An Israeli investigation today confirmed Iranian involvement in the attack.
Sources told The Saudi Al-Hadath TV channel: “Officials at the Iranian embassy in Beirut are involved in the assassination attempt on Netanyahu.”
Iranian officials meanwhile tried to downplay the situation but confirmed the drones were indeed launched by Hezbollah.
Although Tehran denied any involvement in the drone strike that appeared to “eliminate Netanyahu”.
Iran has also vowed to respond to any Israeli attack – saying it has “no red lines”.
Reuters A member of Israeli security personnel stands at the entrance to a street, following a drone attack from Lebanon towards Israel[/caption]
AFpIsraeli security forces gather on a street leading to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea on October 19, 2024[/caption]
X/@BarakRavidIn a rare video statement, PM Netanyahu insisted ‘nothing will deter him’[/caption]
AFP Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to retaliate if attacked by Israel[/caption]
NETANYAHU’S REVENGE
Israel is now expected to launch a retaliatory strike after Iran attacked the country with almost 200 ballistic missiles targeting the civilian population.
Live footage from Israel showed hundreds of ballistic missiles being shot down by Israeli air defences over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Air raid sirens blared across the country as innocent Israelis scrambled to take cover in their homes, under bridges, and in bomb shelters.
Deafening explosions have also been heard in the Jordan Valley, which sits on the border between Jordan and the West Bank.
it was an audacious move from Tehran that threatened to push the region into an all-out war.
But in a setback to both Jerusalem and Washington, secret plans showing Israel’s preparation for a revenge strike on Iran were leaked last week.
The alleged documents, marked as “top secret”, are said to contain US intelligence analysing Israel’s inevitable retaliation plan against Iran.
Parts of the leaked document, dated October 15 and 16, reportedly contain satellite imagery appearing to show Israel’s preparation of munitions and military drills, according to the New York Times.
Others describe the assessment of the Israeli Air Force exercising long-range ballistic and air-to-surface missiles – believed to be planned for a potential strike against Iran.
The documents also suggest Israel was conducting covert surveillance on Iran using advanced drone technology.
The Sun is not directly quoting or showing the information from the leaked documents.
Speaking of the intel leak, senior US officials privately acknowledged the documents were authentic, but suggested they were not a comprehensive assessment of Israel’s full retaliation plan against Iran.
They said the documents only outlined the information US intelligence analysts could gather as of the time of the document.
However, US officials told CNN the leak is “deeply concerning”.
Parts of the highly sensitive documents began circulating in Telegram after being posted by an account called Middle East Spectator, The Telegraph reports.
The account claims not to have any affiliations to the Iranian regime – and is said to be managed by a bunch of independent journalists who refer to the Israeli government as the “Zionist Regime”
Although the New York Times reported that the documents have been discussed largely by pro-Iranian groups.
Ballistic missiles launched from Iran as seen in Ashkelon, Israel on October 1
AFPIsrael’s Iron Dome defence system obliterates enemy missiles in mid-air[/caption]
An Iron Dome launcher in action
LATEST IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAR
Hezbollah fired a salvo of more than 100 rockets into Israel, killing at least one person and injuring others in the northern region of the country.
Footage shared by the IDF shows a building destroyed by the rocket attack that was launched from Lebanon targeting innocent Israeli people.
Posting the clip on X/Twitter, the IDF said: “Hezbollah fires rockets indiscriminately, and this is the result.”
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.
IDF has been striking multiple targets inside Lebanon which they claim are Hezbollah strongholds.
Some of the buildings struck were Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and an underground weapons workshop in Beirut, Israel claims.
The Israeli military also issued fresh evacuation warnings for civilians staying in Beirut’s southern suburb.
IDF Col. Avichay Adraee said: “You are in the vicinity of Hezbollah facilities, which the IDF will operate against in the near future.”
Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon – both Iran-backed militant groups.
The IDF have been striking parts of northern Gaza, claiming they are aiming to wipe out Hamas brutes.
But the strikes have also killed scores of Palestinians who were present in the densely populated area.
More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, according to Gaza-run health centres.
The figure also includes Hamas terrorists.