On October 19, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in the northern city of Caesarea was attacked by a drone, though no casualties were reported. On October 22, Israeli media released the first images showing the damage caused to Netanyahu’s home.
During a press conference held in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah media office director Afif stated that the organization claimed full responsibility for the drone attack on Netanyahu’s residence and would continue its assaults on him.
How will the situation in the Middle East evolve? Will the Lebanon-Israel conflict escalate further?
In response to the incident, Netanyahu issued a statement labeling the attack as a serious mistake made by “Iran and its proxies.” He emphasized, “Nothing can stop us.”
In released footage, Netanyahu appeared in a black polo shirt and sunglasses, walking through a sunlit park while addressing the camera, stating, “We are in a life-and-death struggle, and we will continue to fight to the end.”
An IDF spokesperson, Hidai, stated on October 19 that Hezbollah’s actions would prompt Israel to intensify its operations against the group. Defense Minister Gallant noted that attempts to target the Prime Minister and his family amounted to an attack on Israel itself, asserting that security forces would continue to use force against any threats to Israel.
Hezbollah’s Afif reiterated on October 22 that the group is solely responsible for the drone strike and plans to increase its assaults on Netanyahu. He expressed disbelief that anyone would doubt Hezbollah’s ability to strike “targets in Jerusalem.” He further emphasized that Hezbollah would not negotiate with Israel while hostilities continue, claiming that their attacks were steadily increasing and causing significant losses to the Israeli military.
Following the drone attack, Israeli leaders centered their comments around Iran, with Netanyahu and the Foreign Minister both accusing the country of orchestrating the incident. Experts suggest that the underlying motive is Iran’s desire to demonstrate its military capabilities and establish deterrence against Israel.
Iran, meanwhile, has denied any involvement, stating that the attack was solely conducted and planned by Hezbollah, distancing itself from the incident. However, Israeli officials view all actions as operating under Iranian guidance, aiming to bolster Iran’s military deterrent against Israel.
The Middle East situation appears to have reached a critical juncture. On October 17, Israel announced the killing of Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar in southern Gaza, whom it considered a key architect of the Hamas attacks on October 7. Hezbollah declared on October 18 that its military hostilities with Israel had entered a new escalatory phase.
Recently, Hezbollah published a statement indicating that its forces had launched 39 attacks against the IDF and northern settlements, targeting military installations and infrastructure around Tel Aviv and Haifa. They claimed to have successfully hit Israeli Merkava tanks, leading to casualties among Israeli soldiers.
Experts note that the conflict has intensified in the aftermath of Sinwar’s death, with Hezbollah’s drone strike on Netanyahu’s residence highlighting the significance of these developments along the Lebanon-Israel border. Following Sinwar’s elimination, the international community perceives a potential opportunity for Israel to conclude its military operations, given Israel’s objective in Gaza was to dismantle Hamas. This may open the door for temporary ceasefire negotiations focusing on the release of captives held by Hamas.
Despite previous expressions by Hezbollah’s leadership about seeking a negotiated resolution to the Lebanon-Israel issues, they have faced no response from Israel. With the recent escalation, including more sophisticated missile capabilities and targeted drone attacks, Hezbollah seems to be applying pressure to bring Israel back to the negotiating table.
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