(CLO) Israel attacked what it said were Hezbollah weapons facilities south of Beirut on Saturday, shortly after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was launched at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home.
Earlier on Saturday (October 19), Israeli officials said a drone flew toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in the coastal town of Caesarea, about 50 kilometers from Tel Aviv, but did not hit its target.
Mr Netanyahu was not present at the time, and it is unclear whether the building was hit. But he described it as an assassination attempt by Hezbollah and called it a “grave mistake”.
Israeli security forces patrol the road leading to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence after a UAV targeted the residence. Photo: Times of Israel
In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israel carried out several heavy airstrikes on several locations, leaving thick clouds of smoke over the city until late in the night. The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted "several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence command center."
Witnesses said Israel issued evacuation orders for four separate residential areas in the suburb, urging residents to stay 500 metres away, but also carried out air strikes in other areas.
Three drones entered Israeli territory on Saturday, the Israeli military said. Two were intercepted, but the other evaded air defenses and flew to the coastal town of Caesarea, where it crashed into a building and exploded.
This is the first time a drone has exploded in Caesarea, a town famous for its Roman archaeological sites and home to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli airstrikes south of Beirut on October 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The incident came a day after Hezbollah threatened to step up attacks on Israel in revenge for the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, leading to speculation that the Lebanese militia was behind it.
The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired about 180 rockets and missiles into Israel on Saturday. The militia claimed responsibility for the attacks in the Haifa neighborhood, near Israel's northern border, which killed one person, injured more than a dozen, and caused several fires. But Hezbollah has yet to comment on the attack on the Israeli prime minister's residence.
Promises by Israel and rivals Hamas and Hezbollah to continue fighting have dashed hopes that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday could lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
The Israeli air strikes came as medics and Hamas media in Gaza said Israeli bombing had also killed more than 100 people across the nearly flattened territory.
Quang Anh (according to AFP, Times of Israel)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/israel-ban-pha-beirut-va-gaza-sau-khi-nha-cua-thu-tuong-netanyahu-bi-uav-tan-cong-post317550.html
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