Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's residence targeted in flash bomb attack

Caesarea (The Uttam Hindu): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea was targeted on Saturday, with two flash bombs landing in the garden of his property. The flares landed in the courtyard, but Netanyahu and his family were not present at the time of the attack. Authorities, including the police and Israel's Shin Bet security agency, condemned the incident, calling it "a serious and dangerous escalation." An investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed alarm over the attack, warning about the increasing violence in the public sphere. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Herzog confirmed his conversation with Shin Bet officials, stressing the urgent need to bring those responsible to justice. Defence Minister Israel Katz also condemned the attack, stating it had crossed "all red lines." Katz highlighted the dual threats faced by Netanyahu—external ones from groups like Iran and Hezbollah, and increasingly, threats within Israel itself.

This latest attack follows a similar incident in October when a drone, attributed to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, targeted Netanyahu's residence. At the time, Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him and his wife, and vowed to continue fighting Iran's proxies. The tensions with Hezbollah have escalated in recent weeks, with the group engaged in cross-border exchanges with Israeli forces. On the same day as the flash bomb attack, a Hezbollah rocket barrage struck a synagogue in Haifa, injuring two people. The Israeli military successfully intercepted several projectiles launched from Lebanon, but some rockets hit northern Israeli towns, setting off air raid sirens across the region.

Escalation in Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces ramped up military operations in response to Hezbollah’s largest wave of rocket attacks. By late evening, Hezbollah had launched around 80 projectiles, including rockets and mortars, into Israel. Israeli troops briefly advanced into the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, capturing a strategic hill before retreating after clashes with Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli forces destroyed several structures in the area. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds, including the Dahiyeh district of Beirut and the port city of Tyre. These airstrikes have caused significant destruction and resulted in civilian casualties, including a family of six killed in the strikes. The violence marks a further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.