A drone targeted the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea on Saturday, October 19, as confirmed by his office. Neither the Prime Minister nor his wife was at home during the attack, and no injuries were reported.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that three drones were launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory earlier that day. While two were intercepted, one struck a building in Caesarea. It remains unclear if the building hit was part of Netanyahu’s residence or if it sustained significant damage.
“At 08:19 local time, three unmanned aerial vehicles crossed into the country from Lebanon. Two were intercepted, while one hit a building in Caesarea. No injuries were reported,” the IDF statement said.
This attack is part of escalating hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, with over 55 rockets reportedly launched from Lebanon into Israel on Saturday. In response, Israeli forces have intensified strikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon.
The drone strike follows reports of two fatalities in Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in Jounieh, a Christian-majority town near Beirut, marking a shift from previous Israeli operations, which had primarily focused on Hezbollah-controlled areas.
No group, including Hezbollah, has claimed responsibility for the drone attack, but tensions remain high as Israel continues retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities. Netanyahu frequently uses his Caesarea residence in addition to his homes in Jerusalem and the official Prime Minister’s residence, Beit Aghion, currently under renovation.
