A Hezbollah UAV hit the Israeli Prime Minister’s private house

“We are the only party responsible for the Caesarea operation targeting Mr. Netanyahu,” Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif said at a press conference on October 22, referring to the drone attack. (UAV) aimed at the private home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three days earlier.

On October 22, the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) confirmed that a UAV hit Prime Minister Netanyahu’s private house. Photos published on the same day showed damage to the outside of the house, with some trees cut down. Israeli officials said Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife were not at their home at the time the UAV hit, and there were no casualties in the raid.

This is the first time a target directly related to Mr. Netanyahu has been hit since the conflict broke out.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the above UAV was one of three aircraft launched from Lebanon on October 19, the remaining two were shot down. The IDF is investigating suspicions that Israel’s warning system malfunctioned and the air defense missed its target.

Mr. Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of plotting to assassinate him and his wife. The Israeli Prime Minister affirmed that the attack will not stop him from continuing the campaign and warned that anyone who harms the country’s citizens will pay a heavy price.

During a press conference in Lebanon, Hezbollah spokesman Afif also said that the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial institution “anticipated Israel’s raids and took all preventive measures”, and committed to implementing them. fulfill all obligations to depositors.

The IDF recently raided Al-Qard Al-Hassan positions, as well as suspected locations of Hezbollah gold and money vaults. Israeli intelligence identifies Al-Qard Al-Hassan as an indispensable part of Hezbollah’s network, helping to provide funding for the group’s activities.

A Hezbollah spokesman said some members of the group were taken prisoner in fighting with the Israeli army and called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to determine whether they were safe, but did not specify a specific number.

“I know the opponent does not commit to complying with war conventions and related international conventions, but Israel must take responsibility for protecting the lives of those who have been captured,” Mr. Afif said.

Hezbollah forces repeatedly launched rockets, missiles and drones (UAVs) into Israeli territory after fighting in the Gaza Strip broke out in October 2023. Hezbollah claimed this was an act of solidarity with its ally Hamas and would only stop when there was a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict between the two sides recently escalated seriously after Israel airstrikes killed a series of senior Hezbollah officials, including leader Hassan Nasrallah, and launched a limited ground campaign into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah responded by continuously shelling, launching rockets and missiles into northern Israel and fighting with the country’s infantry near the border.

The armed group in Lebanon also demonstrated the ability to conduct raids at least 60 km deep into enemy territory, while Israeli air defenses have repeatedly missed their targets and seem to be facing the risk of lacking interceptor missiles.