'A grave mistake' - Netanyahu and family unharmed as Hezbollah drone targets PM’s private home in Caesarea

A drone launched by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in the coastal town of Caesarea on Saturday morning, his spokesperson confirmed.

The Axios news outlet reported that Netanyahu’s private home was struck, without providing further details.

“The prime minister and his wife were not at their residence at the time of the attack and there were no casualties,” Netanyahu’s spokesman affirmed.

The IDF reported that three drones were launched in the attack, two of which were shot down by helicopters.

An Image claimed to show Damage to the Home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following today’s Hezbollah Drone Attack on the Coastal Town of Caesarea. pic.twitter.com/GMB7v7CCNn

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 19, 2024

"The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake. 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 said in a video statement on Saturday evening.

The strike was the first time that one of Israel's enemies targeted a site associated with Netanyahu during this war.

During the day, Israeli's Channel 12 News reported that Netanyahu spoke on the phone with former U.S. President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. House Speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson, who each expressed their shock following reports of the attack.

Sources close to Netanyahu told Kan that Israel will deliver a strong response to Hezbollah and Iran.

"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. 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. Together, we will fight, and with God's help – together, we will win," the prime minister said.

During the drone attack, no sirens were activated in Caesarea. However, alarms were triggered near Glilot, the location of the IDF's Mossad headquarters, as well as an IDF intelligence base.

The attack came after Hezbollah announced a “new phase” in its attacks against Israel in the wake of the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday, amid withering rocket fire on northern Israel that left one man dead and several others injured.

Since Friday evening, Hezbollah has fired more than 100 rockets and drones at Israeli towns, killing one man and wounding at least 10 Israelis.

In his first video message released earlier on Saturday, shortly after the drone strike, Netanyahu was seen strolling in an undisclosed location, speaking about Sinwar's death before declaring, "We're going to win this war."

Nothing will deter me!”

says PM @netanyahu as he comments the failed Iranian Islamic Regime’s assassination attempt on him today in Caesarea, Israel. pic.twitter.com/cBikkqM70Z

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 19, 2024

After being asked whether anything would deter him, Netanyahu answered simply: "No."