Israel’s government reported that a drone targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea on Saturday, although no casualties were reported. The attack occurred as fighting with Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, and Hamas, based in Gaza, continued unabated following the killing of the mastermind behind last year’s October 7 attack.
Israel’s military said that dozens of projectiles were launched from Lebanon, a day after Hezbollah announced an escalation in the conflict. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that neither he nor his wife were at home during the drone attack, though it is unclear if the residence itself was hit. Local reports mentioned that no sirens were heard before the explosion. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the drone strike but has admitted to launching several rocket attacks on northern and central Israel.
New airstrikes in Beirut suburbs
Israel responded by conducting at least 10 airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area known for being a Hezbollah stronghold, according to Lebanese officials. In Gaza, Israeli forces targeted hospitals in the north, with strikes killing more than 50 people, including children, in under 24 hours, hospital sources and reporters said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon saw increased violence, with approximately 180 projectiles fired into northern Israel. The barrage claimed the life of a 50-year-old man and injured several others. Israeli airstrikes retaliated, hitting Hezbollah targets, including in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, and killing several people.
The conflict has further displaced over a million people in Lebanon, while in Gaza, Israel has continued airstrikes following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Leaflets dropped by Israel’s military warned Gazans that Sinwar’s actions had “destroyed your lives,” and urged fighters to surrender and release hostages.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, Gaza’s infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, has been devastated. Strikes continue to pound residential areas, and local health authorities report that more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s retaliatory offensive, with over half of the casualties being women and children.
