Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to Hezbollah following an alleged assassination attempt on him and his wife. The drone attack, reportedly launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah, targeted Netanyahu's private residence in the coastal city of Caesarea. Although neither Netanyahu nor his wife was home at the time, the Israeli leader emphasized that the attempt was a "grave mistake" and vowed that it would not deter Israel from its goals in the ongoing conflict.
"The attempt by Iran's proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," Netanyahu wrote in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies in order to secure our future."
Netanyahu's warning extended beyond Hezbollah, addressing the broader "Axis of Resistance" that includes Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. He reiterated Israel's determination to achieve its objectives following the October 7 attacks, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead and resulted in around 250 hostages taken by Hamas militants.
"I say to Iran and its proxies in its axis of evil: Anyone who tries to harm Israel's citizens will pay a heavy price. We will continue to eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them," Netanyahu declared. "We will bring our hostages home from Gaza, and we will return our citizens who live on our Northern border safely to their homes. Israel is determined to achieve all our war objectives and change the security reality in our region for generations to come."
The Israeli military reported that three drones were fired from Lebanon on Saturday, two of which were intercepted. There were no injuries, though minor damage was reported at Netanyahu's residence. The incident is seen as a message from Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militant groups that they remain capable of striking significant targets despite the ongoing conflict and the loss of senior leadership figures in recent weeks.
Daniel Levy, president of the U.S./Middle East Project, noted that the drone strike was a signal that Hezbollah and other groups remain formidable despite recent setbacks. "It sends an important signal that any talk that Hezbollah has been incapacitated is premature," Levy said in an interview with NewsNation. "It also shows that Hamas and other groups are far from finished, as they continue to act in defense of their cause." He added that without a political solution, security measures alone cannot bring peace to the region.
Netanyahu's response to the assassination attempt was resolute, as he released a video message assuring Israelis that their government would prevail. "We're going to win this war," Netanyahu stated. "Two days ago, we took out Sinwar, the terrorist mastermind whose goons beheaded our men, raped our women, and burned our babies alive. We took him out, and we're continuing to battle with Iran's other terrorist proxies."
The drone strike came just days after Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader accused of orchestrating the brutal October 7 attack on Israel. In response, Hezbollah and Iran had vowed retaliation, and the attempted strike on Netanyahu's residence is seen as part of this broader effort to target Israeli leadership.
The escalating conflict has also drawn concern from international leaders. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant following the drone attack. According to Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Austin reviewed recent U.S. force-posture adjustments, including the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to bolster Israel's defenses against threats from Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also expressed support for Netanyahu, writing on social media that he had spoken with the prime minister and found him to be "in good spirits and undeterred." Johnson reiterated America's commitment to supporting Israel against Iranian-backed threats, emphasizing the importance of countering these militant groups.
The assassination attempt follows a series of recent clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Less than a week earlier, Hezbollah launched an attack on an Israeli military base that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers. This assault was in response to an Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut late last month.
Middle East experts argue that the recent drone strike underscores the limits of Israel's missile defense systems. "The missile defense system cannot offer full protection. You cannot have 100 percent security," Levy noted. "Unless you have a political solution, you're not going to see an end to this, and that's what Netanyahu has avoided and prevented all these years."
