‘Grave mistake’: Netanyahu warns Iran, Hezbollah after 'assassination' bid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (October 19) issued a warning to Iran and the Hezbollah, asserting that the latter’s attempt to assassinate him and his wife was a “grave mistake” and that anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price.

The video statement came following drone attacks on his residence in Caesarea.

Also read: Drone fired from Lebanon explodes near Netanyahu’s home

“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 posted on X.

‘Will continue to eliminate terrorists’

Asserting that such attacks will not deter him from his goal, Netanyahu said Israel will continue to eliminate terrorists and those who back them.

“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,” he said in the post.

Also read: Explained: How Israel carried out the pager attacks against Hezbollah

“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 post said.

Attack on PM’s residence

The Israel prime minister’s post came following a drone attack near his residence on Saturday, a day after Israel eliminated Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.

Sinwar, known to have orchestrated the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, became the chief of Hamas after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran.

However, the Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack on Netanyahu’s residence.